A BAR owner will not be disqualified after admitting hitting an elderly woman while driving without due care and attention.

A road safety group has slammed the decision as a mockery.

Aykut Adem, the owner of the Fashion Bar, in St Botolphs Street, Colchester, struck the woman while driving his Renault car in Bergholt Road in the town, on July 25.

His victim was left with fractures to her collar bone.

But he will keep his licence after he convinced the Court it would destroy his business if he was banned from driving.

The court heard the 46-year-old had been driving at just over 40mph in a 30mph zone, but Adem’s lawyer, in mitigation, said a passer-by had reported hearing the woman’s husband warning her not to cross the road.

She added: “My client accepts he was going too fast. He saw the lady start across the road.

“I am sure he hit the brake, perhaps too hard, and then lost control and slid into the lady.”

The court heard Adem needs to drive regularly to run his business, including picking up supplies for the Fashion Bar and removing cash.

Adem, of Devereux Place, Colchester, admitted driving without due care and attention, at Colchester Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, and had six points added to his licence.

He already has six points on his licence for speeding and talking on his mobile, but was not disqualified.

District Judge David Cooper said: “Bearing in mind all the circumstances, I am satisfied it would cause you exceptional hardship.

“It would more or less destroy your business.”

Adem was also fined £500, plus £85 costs and a £15 surcharge.

Ellen Booth, campaigns officer at road safety campaign group Brake, criticised the decision to allow Adem to continue driving.

She said: “The system of banning drivers once they have totted up 12 points on their licence is in place to ensure drivers who persistently break the law have their licence removed for the safety of the public.

“The judge’s decision in this case makes a mockery of this system.”