Hi, once you reach 12 points you are looking at a ban. It's not 100% guaranteed that you will get one, exceptional hardship may be taken into consideration, but pretty likely. The ban will be 6 months, unless they decide that they need to make an example of you.
You will be required to attend court, they cannot ban any driver unless he's in front of them. It may well be worth your while to get some legal advice from a solicitor who knows the local magistrates. As in all cases, showing contrition and being polite will work better than blaming everybody else.
Good luck, and leave the diver's boots at home in future