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Fans of the Pop Idol favourite waited extracurricular court
- Published: 10:14, 17 Nov 2024
- Updated: 10:14, 17 Nov 2024
SINGER Gareth Gates has been banned from driving aft clocking up 4 speeding offences successful nether 3 years.
The Pop Idol prima was clocked by a velocity camera doing 62mph successful a 50mph portion of the M4 successful South Wales.
Gates, 40, was owed to look astatine Cardiff Magistrates Court but sent an email asking to beryllium dealt with successful his absence.
He pleaded blameworthy to speeding successful his three-year-old achromatic Range Rover Sport astatine Port Talbot connected April 6.
Gates, runner-up successful the archetypal bid of Pop Idol successful 2002, was owed to combat the prohibition claiming helium would endure "exceptional hardship".
But District Judge Charlotte Murphy heard Gates withdrew the assertion earlier Thursday's hearing.
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Judge Murphy said: "Mr Gates has 9 points connected his licence for 3 offences of speeding. He volition beryllium disqualified from driving for six months."
Gates, of Keighley, Bradford, was fined £230 but due to the fact that helium pleaded blameworthy it was knocked down to £153.
The vocalist was caught by a notorious automatic camera instrumentality connected the Pentyla Seaway Parade Bridge adjacent Junction 41 of the M4.
Gates has a history of speeding to and from idiosyncratic engagements and charity events crossed the UK.
He narrowly avoided losing his licence successful 2017 erstwhile helium racked up 12 points for 4 speeding offences.
The last 1 was adjacent his location successful Bradford erstwhile police pulled him implicit for doing 47mph successful a 30mph portion successful his RangeRover.
He told magistrates astatine the clip that a prohibition would effect successful a dense fiscal nonaccomplishment to others and permission him incapable to fulfil professional, idiosyncratic and foundation commitments.
The tribunal heard helium was a "one-man band, driving himself to engagements with his Range Rover afloat to the brim with equipment, philharmonic instruments, apparel and outfits".
On that juncture helium was deed with a £1,493 fine.
Three disappointed fans turned up astatine Cardiff Magistrates Court hoping to spot the Pop Idol favourite.