FORMER go-kart champ Craig Reed was texting on his mobile phone when he lost control of his car. He smashed into two parked vehicles in the centre of Witchford, Ely magistrates were told. And despite a plea for his licence from his haulage contractor fath

FORMER go-kart champ Craig Reed was texting on his mobile phone when he lost control of his car.

He smashed into two parked vehicles in the centre of Witchford, Ely magistrates were told.

And despite a plea for his licence from his haulage contractor father, Ely magistrates banned the 22-year-old from driving for six weeks.

"We view this sort of incident extremely seriously. You have seen the publicity about using a mobile phone while driving, and you have seen the results," said presiding magistrate Janet South. "Texting on a mobile phone while driving is totally unacceptable and is irresponsible."

Reed was driving a Peugeot 306 along Main Street, Witchford, on October 21 last year when he collided with a parked Vauxhall Zafira, said prosecutor Angela Sassoli. That car was pushed into a Ford Mondeo, and all three cars were damaged. A passenger in Reed's car was injured.

Reed, of Main Street, Witchford, told the police he had been texting on his phone and driving at about 40 mph. He apologised for his actions.

Representing himself in court, Reed told the court that a driving ban would mean the loss of his independence, but conceded he could cycle to his job as an engineer in Ely.

Speaking on his son's behalf, Chris Reed, who runs a haulage business in Lancaster Way, said his son needed his driving licence to make special deliveries for the company.

"He is now of an age that I want to bring him into the business," he said. "He needs the experience of driving all over the country. If he loses his licence, it will set us back.

"He does drive well - he is a former go-kart champion. It was a lapse of concentration.

"He should not have been doing that and he knows that."

Reed was also fined £150 with £35 costs.