A Felixstowe man has been fined for not taking enough rest breaks in his job as an HGV driver.

Nicolaie-Daniel Candrea, of Church Lane, Felixstowe, appeared in Suffolk Magistrates Court on Monday, March 13.

The 31-year-old was an employee of Zoom Driving, a company that has now ceased trading.

Darius Florin Pop, of Zoom Driving, appeared in the same court on the same day and was fined a total of £10,309.

The court heard how the regulations are introduced for drivers' safety.

Regulations include drivers must take a 45-minute break after every 4.5 hours of driving, should not drive for more than 10 hours in every 24 hour period, and must not be on duty for more than 15 hours in a 24 hour period which leaves a nine-hour break.

The time periods are monitored through the use of a driver card.

Candrea admitted exceeding the recommended driving time and breaking the duty rule on many occasions between October and November 2021.

The court heard how the transport manager at the company was responsible for planning journeys, and would have been aware of the breaches of time limits.

In his defence, the court heard that Candrea has been driving for nine years, and the offences were not committed for economic gain, but in circumstances where he was running out of time and wanted to spend time with their families.

He faced eight charges of knowingly permitting a false relevant record, and two of failing to make a relevant record, both for the purposes of the Community Recording Equipment Regulations.

Candrea admitted guilty pleas to all charges.

He was fined a total of £1,638.