David Beckham Banned From Driving For Using Mobile Phone – TheNigerialawyer

Football superstar David Beckham was reprimanded today by a
judge for putting the public at risk, as he was banned from driving
for six months for using his phone while at the wheel.

The 44-year-old former Manchester United and Real Madrid
midfielder was spotted by a member of the public holding his phone
while in slow moving traffic in Great Portland Street, central
London.

Oblivious that he was being watched, Beckham was photographed at
the wheel of his Bentley and the pictures were sent on to the
police who charged him with using a mobile phone while driving.

He entered a written plea to the offence and appeared at Bromley
magistrates court this afternoon to be banned from driving for six
months and fined £750.

“At the time, it’s said the traffic was slow-moving and you may
have thought it was stationary”, said District Judge Catherine
Moore.

“But that’s no excuse in law, it’s still distracting to use a
mobile phone. It’s a risk to yourself and other road users.”

Beckham’s lawyer, Gerrard Tyrrell, told the court the star will
now be unable to take his children to and from school and will miss
driving which he finds “relaxing”.

“Mr Beckham has no recollection of the day in question or this
particular incident”, he said.

“He has seen the photographs and his only observation is it
looks as if it is stationary traffic.

“His view is he can’t remember and so he is going to plead
guilty.”

Offering mitigation, Mr Tyrrell added: “Mr Beckham, rather
strangely, actually likes driving, he drives a lot and it is
something that he finds relaxing, rather oddly.

“He takes his children to school each day when he can, and he
picks them up when he can. This will deprive them of that.”

Beckham had six points on his licence before this offence, for
two speeding cases from February 2016 and January 2018, the court
heard.

He was given a further six points today, taking the total to 12
which meant he faced an automatic ban.

Prosecutor Matthew Spratt said the incident happened on November
21 last year, when a member of the public, Richard Cooper, spotted
Beckham and went to try to take his photo.

“Instead of looking straight forward and paying attention to the
road, he appeared to be looking at something in his lap”, he
said.

“On a closer look inside, the defendant was operating a handheld
device. A photo was taken of the defendant holding a mobile phone
in an upright position.”

Beckham, wearing a grey suit and tie, sat with his hands in his
lap throughout the brief hearing, speaking only to confirm his
name, age and address.

He nodded as the sentence was passed and swiftly left the
courtroom.

Beckham received criticism last year when he avoided a speeding
conviction for going 59mph in a 40mph zone in January last year,
despite admitting he had been going too fast.

He hired the lawyer nicknamed Mr Loophole, Nick Freeman, to
fight the case, successfully arguing that the notice of prosecution
had been sent out too late by police.

He also successfully dodge a ban in 1999 for speeding, after
telling a court he had been trying to get away from pursuing
paparazzi photographers.

No details of Beckham’s previous speeding convictions were given
in court today.

The star, who lives in Holland Park, must pay £100 court costs
and a £75 victim surcharge on top of the £750 fine, with all money
to be paid within a week.

He will automatically regain his licence in October once his ban
has expired.

Culled from .standard.co.uk

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