Ducking costs power boat owner a pounds 100 fine for speeding

A power boat owner was given the maximum speeding fine yesterday - for giving six ducks a soaking.

Sivananva Vincent, a 30-year-old artist, was booked by British Waterways officials after a wave from his craft knocked the sunbathing ducks off a canal bank. Nottingham magistrates fined him the maximum pounds 100 for speeding on the Beeston Canal near the city.

The magistrates were told that the powerboat was travelling at 20mph - five times over the limit. Bob Oates, for the prosecution, said one witness described it as the worst case of speeding he had seen on the canal. Tax workers in a nearby office reported Vincent after they saw the ducks swept into the water.

Vincent, of Attenborough, Nottinghamshire, was also fined pounds 250 for not possessing a pleasure boat licence and ordered to pay pounds 340 costs.