A man has escaped a fine and points on his licence after being caught driving across a level crossing when the lights were red.

Olatokunbo Oladuti, 35, from Sandfield Gardens, in Thornton Heath, denied the driving offence when he appeared at Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court for the day trial on Monday, March 4.

But a magistrate found him guilty of driving his Toyota Avensis across the West Barnes Lane level crossing on 21 May 2013 and he was given an absolute discharge with no costs or surcharges to pay.

A British Transport Police spokesman said: “We work closely with Network Rail to raise awareness around level crossings and to educate people about the potential dangers of misuse.

“Drivers who willingly flout the law and place themselves and others in danger should be in no doubt that if caught doing so, we will do everything in our power to prosecute those responsible. It is simply not worth the risk.”