Advice needed please accidentally ran a red light

[MidlandMan1986]

I stupidly went through a red light before Christmas and was caught by the camera - 16 seconds it had been red for. It was the third of five sets of traffic lights on the one way road I travelled along, I stopped at the first two which were red but by the time I passed the third I was so close to the wholesalers that my mind was so focused on what I needed to get I literally didn't notice the red light until the camera flashed, yet I was looking straight ahead the whole time, I could see no one was crossing the road, or pulling out from a junction, no physical distractions such as adjusting the radio or taking a call but still went through.

I could kick myself, I know the city centre well and have been down this road hundreds of times, and with 3 points on my license already after finding out I wasn't actually adhering to speed limits on a dual carriage way (turns out my small van should only do 60 max in a dual carriage way not 70, I had no idea), I'm panicking that I could lose my license, with a heavily pregnant wife who could need to go to hospital any time from now until July if any complications arise, with no friends or family within a 50 minute drive from us that could help with travel, assuming they were even available.

I had an NIP through the post so sent it back completed promptly admitting I was the driver. Since then I have recently received a short letter from the police thanking me for the completed form but that due to the amount of time the light had been red it was unlikely I'd be offered a course and could quite possibly end up in court which let's face it is a given.

What punsihment can I expect realistically if it goes to court? taking into account I already have 3 points on my license, it was a genuine mistake but an offence nonetheless?

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated, and if you have been to court yourself after going through a red light offence I'd be grateful to hear how you got on, what the outcome was, what you had to prepare for the court hearing, did you get legal help and how did it go with or without legal help etc.

I've done same and caught in speeding camera but bizarrely never heard anything not all the cams are checked. Years ago I had to ask a BF to take 3 points to leave me with 3 not 6. It was a cf thing to do and I wouldn't do it again.

3 points but higher fine and court costs would be my guess.

You’ve already “admitted guilt”, so nothing much else to do. Are you a new driver?

I can’t help but if it comes to it and you can explain what a detriment to your wife losing your licence would be, that would definitely be worth doing.

my ex (arse of a) boss managed to avoid a licence revoke in court by saying his livelihood would be affected which would affect his innocent wife and kids- who needed lifts to places (all true). He got a hefty fine instead. It was some time ago though.

This is useful -

https://www.singlejusticeprocedure.co.uk/red-traffic-light.html#:~:text=Failing%20to%20comply%20with%20a,resolved%20without%20a%20Court%20hearing.

No I've been driving about 18 years now but I knownif you get 6 points within your first 2 years it's a ban

" a CF thing to do"? It was an illegal thing to do, you might not want to be telling everyone you did this given it's punishable by prison. For you and your bf.

OP, are you genuinely telling us that you didn't see the red light, and didn't know you were going too fast, but you're actually a really safe driver? Maybe play that down in court, they prefer remorse generally.