Rio Ferdinand is banned from driving for six months after being caught travelling at 85mph in his new Mercedes
Former England and Manchester United star Rio Ferdinand has been banned from driving for six months today after he was clocked speeding at 85mph in his Mercedes last year.
The 41 year-old former footballer broke the 70mph speed limit on the A27 dual carriageway at the Hangleton interchange in Hove, East Sussex on July 22, last year.
He was driving a brand-new grey two-litre diesel Mercedes and admitted the offence under the new secret Single Justice Procedure Act.
The offence, which carried three penalty points, was added to the nine he already has and triggered the automatic disqualification.
Rio Ferdinand (pictured at Crawley Magistrates Court) has been banned from driving for six months today after he was clocked speeding at 85mph in his Mercedes last year
He argued at Crawley Magistrates Court a ban would amount to ‘exceptional hardship’ because of needing to drive his three children to school, plus other activities.
The coronavirus pandemic meant a private driver or taxis were out of the question, claimed Ferdinand.
However, this was rejected by magistrate Geoffrey Allen, who told him: ‘Unfortunately COVID has affected everybody in the world the same way.’
Ferdinand was also fined £670, with £85 costs and ordered to pay a £67 victim surcharge.
He was previously banned from driving for six months in 2012 after he was caught speeding three times on the same stretch of road in five-week period.
Ferdinand argued at Crawley Magistrates Court a ban would amount to ‘exceptional hardship’ because of needing to drive his three children to school, plus other activities
His argument was rejected by magistrate Geoffrey Allen, who told him: ‘Unfortunately COVID has affected everybody in the world the same way.’ Ferdinand was also fined £670, with £85 costs and ordered to pay a £67 victim surcharge
He was also convicted of speeding in 2005, 2003 and 2002 and drink-driving in 1997.
Ferdinand’s last three speeding offences were on March 16, 2017; May 4, 2018 and April 15, last year.
He received three penalty points on his licence each time.
He told the court it was vital he be allowed to continue driving his three children two school and various events, claiming ‘exceptional hardship’ if he was disqualified.
Ruling out his wife taking over driving duties Ferdinand said: ‘It’s very difficult with three children, with different activities and different times at school.
‘One will be going back to school an hour before the other. Usually we would have a school bus, but that’s impossible with COVID.’
He also ruled out taxis and a private tested chauffeur.
‘I wouldn’t let my children get in a taxi. COVID is an issue.
‘Because of my profile I wouldn’t put my kids in a taxi. I would not allow them to go with a driver.’
Conceding he could afford to hire a chauffeur, who would be COVID-tested, Ferdinand told the court: ‘That’s not concrete. These are unprecedented times, they don’t go into a car with a driver at all.’
Ferdinand agreed his last two speeding convictions followed a Speed Awareness Course for yet another similar offence.