Statistically (because 86% of all statistics are simply made up), when a poster tells us that they received an SJPN out of the blue, with no NIP or reminder received, despite being the RK, with no apparent history of postal issues, the possible explanations, in order of likelihood are as follows-
The OP was 'mistaken' either about the notices not being delivered or being the RK at the material time,
the FPSU c*cked up, or
Postman Pat stole both the NIP and the reminder to tear up to make some bedding for Jess, but had finished before the SJPN was sent.
Historically, there has been much anecdotal evidence to suggest that redirects are often not effective for NIPs (or at all).
The obvious gap in the story is that you presumably moved house around December 2024, updated the address on your V5C at some unspecified point between December 2024 and December 2025, and the alleged speeding offence was most likely early to mid June 2025 based on the timing of the SJPN.
The date the current V5C was issued should be printed on the V5C at the bottom of page 2, after the DocRefNo. You can also check by doing a vehicle check against the VRM on the DVLA's website (if the V5C is not to hand). From previous experience, we will remain skeptical of any claim to be the RK from anyone who cannot lay their hands on the V5C.
If the V5C was not updated before the offence, that does not help you form a viable defence, but it does take the mystery out of the equation.
Does the witness statement state what address the NIP and reminder were sent to? Despite telling us that no other evidence was provided (than the witness statement), was a copy of the NIP included (and if so, was it addressed to your current address)?
On the assumption that no viable defence sneaks down the chimney tonight, the plea deal is commonplace, and to the best of our knowledge has only failed when the accused either unconditionally plead guilty in the hope that the s. 172 charge would vanish of its own accord (in some cases it is automatically dropped, but in others it hasn't been), or went out of his way to tell the prosecutor what was what.
Some courts will deal with a plea deal on the papers, and others will refer it to a full court hearing. However, if the court is paying attention, it should not accept a guilty plea if a defence [to that charge] is disclosed. Your defence to the s. 172 charge (which they invite you to indicate, but at this stage you are under no obligation to do) discloses a defence to the speeding charge.
