News

Teenager banned from driving after being caught speeding six times in a week

19 October 2010

A teenager was banned from the road within months of getting his provisional licence after being caught speeding six times – in less than a week, a court heard.

The 17-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was snapped by automatic cameras breaking 30mph speed limits on his moped.

He admitted six offences of speeding between June 28 and July 2 - five of which were committed in the same place.

Magistrates in Plymouth, Devon, heard the youth was caught speeding almost every day of the week between 8.15am and 8.45am.

Claire Tresidder, prosecuting, said the student was photographed riding at speeds of between 40mph and 45mph.

The youth, who told the court he was unable to explain his actions, was banned from driving for six months, fined £60 and ordered to pay £15 victim surcharge.

Tarrant fined for speeding offences

15 October 2010

Chris Tarrant was given six points on his licence and fined £525 after being caught speeding twice in 21 minutes on the same stretch of road.

Celebrity lawyer Nick Freeman, dubbed Mr Loophole, pleaded guilty on behalf of his client after losing an argument for abuse of process.

The District Judge, sitting at Reading Magistrates' Court, gave Tarrant, who was not in court, three points for each offence and ordered him to pay a fine of £525 plus £1,630 in costs.

The TV presenter was filmed twice by the same camera exceeding the 30mph limit on Broad Lane in Berkshire, on the morning of May 20 last year.

He was caught at 10.30am driving his silver Mercedes Benz CL500 at 47mph, cutting a corner. He was then caught by the same marked van 21 minutes later returning in the other direction at 41mph.

Jermain Defoe fined after admitting using a mobile phone behind the wheel

15 October 2010

England football star Jermain Defoe was fined £800 after admitting using a mobile phone behind the wheel, the Crown Prosecution Service said.

But the Tottenham striker, who already has a series of convictions for motoring offences, avoided a ban after he was given just three points on his licence.

The 28-year-old, who was not present at the hearing at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court, now has a total of 11 points on his licence for driving offences committed between 2008 and 2010, said a CPS spokeswoman. Twelve points usually lead to a driving ban.

Defoe used the phone while driving a black Range Rover in Loughton, Essex, in October 2009. He was pulled over by police.

Defoe, of Cuffley, Hertfordshire, entered a written guilty plea at a hearing in August.