A motorist told a court hundreds of drivers have been entrapped by a faulty speed warning device.

Ray McSweeney, 76, was caught by a speed camera driving at 37mph in a 30mph zone in Ipswich Road, Colchester.

After investigating, he discovered a flashing warning sign operated by Essex County Council on the approach to the camera was broken.

Mr McSweeney, of Mile End Road, Colchester, believes the fact the warning sign did not light up has led drivers to believe they were within the speed limit as they approached the subsequent camera.

He tried to use the faulty equipment to fight a speeding ticket at Colchester Magistrates’ Court on Monday.

Magistrates told him the defect was irrelevant and found him guilty of speeding, ordering him to pay a total of £620.

He plans to appeal his conviction before a crown court judge.

Mr McSweeney said: “The whole circumstances are tantamount to entrapment.

“It is not right and hundreds of motorists have gone through and been entrapped by the failure of a device, which is supposed to warn you and remind you.

“The device fails, so everybody who passes through is not given an indication they are speeding.”

McSweeney broke the speed limit on January 10 this year.

After making inquiries with Essex County Council, he discovered the five-year warranty on the warning device leading up to the camera had expired and maintenance was carried out on an adhoc basis.

Swarco, which carries out maintenance on the council’s behalf, inspected the device in April this year and replaced a faulty moving vehicle detector.

The court heard evidence from Ronald Gomm, of Essex Police’s Safer Roads Bureau, stating the speed camera was working accurately.

In response to a Freedom of Information request, Essex County Council confirmed the device was designed to warn drivers of the enforcement camera ahead.

But it said it is an advisory sign and is not directly linked to the speed camera or any speed enforcement.

Mr McSweeney was found guilty of speeding. He was also given three points on his driving licence, fined £120 and ordered to pay £500 costs.