Camera-Shy Bridgerton Actress Avoids Road Ban For Multiple Speeding Offences

Peek-A-Boo: Andoh Hides From Camera (l)

Bridgerton star Adjoa Andoh was unusually camera-shy yesterday, after she was convicted of speeding yet again - her fifth recent offence.

However, the actress dodged a mandatory driving disqualification after convincing magistrates she needs to be able to drive across the country to visit her frail 85 year-old mother.

The 63 year-old appeared at Lavender Hill Magistrates’ Court, where she successfully fought for her driving licence, claiming she would suffer ‘exceptional hardship’ if she lost it.

Andoh, of Lowden Road, Herne Hill pleaded guilty to exceeding the 20mph speed limit while driving her black two-litre Volvo V60 on February 13 along the A2199 South Croxted Road, West Dulwich.

She plays the long-running role of Lady Agatha Danbury in the historical award-winning Netflix drama.

She was fined £640, with £130 costs and was ordered to pay a £256 victim surcharge and was given another three penalty points.

When leaving court Andoh tried to dodge the Square Mile News photographer by ducking behind her mini entourage - ironic for somebody eager to be in front of camera for her £100,00 a-year role.

Bench Chair Joanne Rutledge told her: “You made an ‘exceptional hardship’ argument that revolved entirely around your mother, who lives alone in a town in Shropshire, not far from the Welsh border.

“She has health issues that are numerous, bones and bleeding and other problems and you have to take her up and down to hospital and she has no carer and she relies on you to pick up the pieces.

“We have found the impact on your mother of you losing your licence amounts to ‘exceptional hardship’ and it was borderline.

“You are driving with a lot of points on your licence,” added Mrs Rutledge. “There are twelve now with the addition of today and you will have a long period of driving with points on your licence.

“You cannot make the same ‘exceptional hardship’ grounds for the next three years. Maybe your mum needs to get herself some assistance and you cannot be relied on going forward.”

Prosecutor Charlotte Birch told the court Andoh was driving at 25mph when an automatic speed camera flashed at 3.42pm.

She has four previous convictions for speeding on March 23, 2023; November 21, 2024 and January 31 and May 1, this year.

Andoh became emotional in the witness box when recalling the death of her Ghanaian father in January, this year and fears her mother may go the same way if she cannot drive the four hours to her home.

Head Down: Prolific Speeder Andoh (r)

“He was in hospital and fell out of bed and hit his head at 7.00pm and we were informed at 8.00am the next day and could not get to him in time.”

Residing in isolated Bishop’s Castle, Shropshire means her mother is difficult to care for if public transport is her only option, Andoh told the magistrates.

“It is possible, but there is a lot of waiting around and it is a forty minute drive from the train station to mum’s town.

“My mum is an amazing woman. She was a schoolteacher, my games mistress, but she is physically frail and had cancer in the 1980’s.

“She has osteoporosis, she’s incontinent, her bladder doesn’t work, she has blood clots and damaged kidneys.”

Recalling one recent worrying incident the actress explained: “She sees moss in her gutters and decides to clean it and got out a step-ladder and fell off the step-ladder and cracked a disc in her spine.

“That was a particularly difficult injury. She is on blood thinners and when she cuts it takes months to heal.

“I was able to get up there, but after a week I had to go back to work and had to fly my brother over, who lives in Los Angeles.

“I’ve had the middle of the night call and just packed a toothbrush and got in the car and go. Somebody could ring me and stay until I get there, but there is no support system for her.

“If I was disqualified for a fortnight or a month what happens is mum falls over in that fortnight?

“I suppose this year I feel particularly sensitive because of how dad died and I would hate for mum to be in hospital. I wouldn’t like that.

“I was over the speed limit on these occasions. There is no argument about that.

“It is a four hour drive,” added Andoh. “In those four hours probably someone from next door would sit with mum. If it was ambulance-worthy I wouldn’t go.

“My husband doesn’t drive and I have three children, but they are all London kids and none of them drive.

“She lives in a converted barn and there isn’t space for someone to live in and frankly my mum would hate that.

“This week she has had exceptionally high blood pressure and they have looked to put her on medication that is contrary to the disease in her kidneys.

“When she falls and cuts herself, she bleeds and she is incontinent when she walks distances, about two-hundred yards.

“It makes her anxious if she cannot get hold of me to come up.

“The fact her kidneys don’t function means she swells up. She has a catheter, uses a bag and is living with an open wound that gets regularly infected and bleeds into the bag.”

Andoh also said she needs her licence to drive to her mother’s brother, who has dementia and lives in Cornwall and her mother’s two sisters live far away, in Cardiff and Wimbledon and one has a broken back and the other a broken ankle.

“Emergencies have arisen when I am at work and I had to go and they had to rejig things.

“Mum has a friendship group, but they are inter eighties and nineties. They are a hardy bunch.

“Mum’s answer is that when she is too old to live in the house she will move into supported living with her friends and when they are too old for that the cottage hospital and then opt their clogs.”

Moving to Andoh’s south-east London home was also out of the question, said the star.

“Mum would absolutely hate it. What would she do all day? She would be incredibly lonely as all her friends are up there and she has lived there forty years.”

The Bristol-born star has carved out a career in stage, screen, television and radio.

She won Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her role as Lady Agatha Danbury from the Black Reel Awards for Television.

She is an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature, an Associate Artist and Honorary Fellow of the Royal Shakespeare Company, a teacher at the Royal Academy of Arts (RADA) and an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature.

Andoh received an MBE for services to drama despite on live television describing Buckingham Palace as having a “terribly white balcony” on the day of King Charles III’s coronation.

Her movie career includes roles in Adulthood and its sequel Brotherhood, plus Invictus and Wallace & Gromit.

Her numerous television roles include Doctor Who; Death in Paradise; Line of Duty; Broadchurch; New Tricks and Silent Witness, plus numerous other roles.

She recently appeared on stage in Richard II & III, plus Bleak Expectations and Julius Caesar.

Train Sex Predator Caught At Court

A sex offender, who targeted lone women on late night trains, has been jailed after British Transport Police (BTP) officers arrested him at an unrelated court appearance. 

Sebastian Vernon, 45, of Finborough Road, West Brompton, was found guilty of two counts of sexual assault following a trial at Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court.

He was sentenced to six months in prison and ordered to sign the sex offenders register for seven years.

The court heard how, at around 11.00pm on March 25, last year, Vernon boarded a Circle Line train at Ladbrook Grove heading towards King’s Cross station. 

Despite the carriage being empty he sat next to a young woman before sexually assaulting her while she was trapped in her seat.

In a bid to escape Vernon’s clutches, she pretended she was leaving the train but stayed on when she saw him disembark.

Just two weeks later, on April 8, Vernon boarded a train from Stevenage to Hitchin just before midnight.

Again he sat next to a young woman in a virtually empty carriage and proceeded to engage her in small talk.

The woman immediately became suspicious of his behaviour and left her seat and moved towards the carriage doors.

When she looked around she realised that Vernon had followed her and as she waited to leave the service he sexually assaulted her.

The women reported what happened through BTP’s discreet 61016 text-to-report service and its online reporting service and officers soon realised they were looking for the same person for both attacks.

Their detailed reports resulted in officers identifying Vernon and tracing him to a central London court where he was arrested as he emerged from a hearing for unrelated offences of assault, theft and possessing cannabis.

BTP Detective Constable Iryna Cuthbert said: “Vernon is an opportunistic predator who prowled train carriages late at night seeking out women who were travelling alone before attacking them.

“I commend the bravery of the two women for reporting what happened and supporting our subsequent investigation which has resulted in another sex offender behind bars.”

Vile Tube Train Sex Offender Back In Prison

A convicted London Underground sexual predator is back behind bars after vowing to stab British Transport Police (BTP) officers.

Mansoor Ahmed, 31, of Blackthorn Avenue, West Drayton spent fourteen minutes on phone with a police caller handler, complaining about his case. 

He launched his hate-filled tirade after calling BTP’s First Contact Centre on the afternoon of Wednesday May 27.

At Inner London Crown Court Ahmed was sentenced to six months imprisonment after pleading guilty to a charge of threatening communications.

He also pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis, and a Public Order offence.

Ahmed called at 2.30pm and provided a reference number for his own case. 

It related to a BTP investigation into him sexually assaulting two women on the London Underground in late 2020.

BTP detectives brought him to justice for those sexual assaults and he was jailed for two years and two months.

Angry that his crimes and custody photo were made public after he was convicted, Ahmed hurled abuse at the call handler.

He threatened graphic violence on BTP officers, stating he would attack them at rail stations.

During his call he said: “I’m coming to stab all of you […] I’m coming to stab a transport police officer”.

Ahmed also made a series of sexually violent threats towards women and children, before adding: “When I find one of your transport police officers, I’m going to put acid on his face.”

Detectives from BTP’s Major, Serious and Organised Crime (MSOC) team launched a manhunt and Ahmed was arrested two days later, on May 29, in West London.

He called arresting officers “dossers” and continued to hurl abuse at them as they drove him to custody.

In interview he told detectives that “red mist” came over him on the call that stemmed from his crimes and photo being made public by BTP.

Ahmed also admitted to being a criminal but claimed he’s not evil.

BTP Detective Constable Lee Smith said: “Mansoor Ahmed’s threats towards our call handler and officers were frankly disgusting.

“He’s a career criminal with a string of previous convictions so it was imperative we caught him soon after the call before he could harm our officers or the public.

“Once we tracked him down and took him into custody, he quickly changed his tune after realising he was faced with another stint behind bars.

“This outcome shows we’ll never stand for horrific abuse or threats towards anyone at BTP.”

"Callous And Opportunistic" Liverpool Street Rolex Robber Caught

A Liverpool Street Station robber, who snatched a £28,000 Rolex watch from a targeted victim, who had a broken ankle, has been jailed.

Mohammed Fremoule, 29 of Cazenove Road, Walthamstow was captured on CCTV outside the busy City of London station.

Dressed completely in black he sneaked up from behind on the victim, who was wearing red shorts and in conversation with a female, and pulled the expensive watch from the man's wrist.

Fremoule pleaded guilty to robbery and handling stolen goods and was sentenced at Inner London Crown Court.

He received two years and eight months.

He was arrested on March 29 after he was found in possession of a stolen mobile phone. 

The watch, which was uninsured, was never recovered.

Detective Constable Marcus Fairclough, of the City of London Police, said: “This was a callous and opportunistic robbery, carried out against a vulnerable victim who was already suffering from a broken ankle. 

“The offender targeted him, stalked him outside Liverpool Street Station and then violently ripped a watch worth approximately £28,000 from his wrist, before making off.

“Due to our extensive CCTV network, we were able to capture the incident and trace the suspect’s movements. 

“Working closely with colleagues from the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) and the British Transport Police (BTP), we were able to build the evidence needed to bring him before the courts.

“This sentence sends a clear message that those who come to the City to commit crime will be relentlessly pursued. 

“Through our investigations, partnerships and world-class CCTV coverage, we are identifying offenders, bringing them to justice and helping to keep the City’s streets safe by locking up criminals who pose a threat to the public.”

Care Home £81,340 Fraud Charges: Manager In Court

Odoch & Apiyo outside court

A care home manager, accused of defrauding two elderly residents out of £81,340 by making dishonest cashpoint withdrawals, appeared at Croydon Crown Court on Monday along with her alleged accomplice.

Winnie Apiyo, 43, the boss of Burrows House Care Home, Penge and Maxwell Odoch, 43, are both fighting the charges against them.

The pair, both of Dumbarton Court, Brixton Hill will return for a trial on February 12, 2029.

Apiyo is charged with fraud by abuse of position between October 10, 2020 and October 10, 2022 by defrauding resident Alan Lucey out of £42,250 and resident Carol Barnes out of £39,090.

She is also charged with fraud by false representation in relation to unauthorised cashpoint withdrawals between October 11, 2021 and September 24, 2022 totalling £81,340.

Odoch is charged with one count of fraud by false representation in relation to cashpoint withdrawals between the same dates.

Crime Writer Linda La Plante The Prime Suspect In Her Own Prosecution

Court Out: Linda La Plante & Nick Freeman

Legendary crime author Lynda La Plante found herself the Prime Suspect after her car was caught speeding five times near her £3.4m home.

The 83 year-old novelist and screenwriter appeared in person at Lavender Hill Magistrates’ Court today, where she admitted being the driver behind the wheel on each occasion.

She was represented by lawyer-to-the-stars Nick Freeman - known as Mr Loophole - for his success rate in beating driving prosecutions, but he failed to save her from a driving ban.

The multi award-winning writer, of Ravenswood Court, Kingston Hill, Kingston-upon-Thames pleaded guilty to exceeding the 20mph speed limit on A308 Kingston Hill on April 6, 11 and 19 and March 5 this year and November 2, 2025.

She was disqualified from driving for six months, given fifteen penalty points and fined £3,330, with £130 costs, plus a £1,332 victim surcharge.

On each occasion she was driving a 17 year-old one-litre white Toyota - taking her dog Theo for a walk in playing fields in nearby Roehampton.

The Liverpool native stepped into the witness box to argue ‘exceptional hardship’ if she was disqualified, claiming she would immediately shut down her business - La Plante Global - ending the jobs of her four staff.

Lynda already had nine penalty points on her driving licence for three speeding offences on the same stretch of road in June, 2023 and June and July, 2025.

The latest offences were all for triggering two speeding cameras for driving at between 24mph and 27mph.

She told the court the early-morning dog walk is a vital part of her ten-hour working day, which begins at 6.00am.

If she could no longer drive to the playing fields she would re-home Theo, her eighteen month-old St. Bernard Wolfhound cross.

The double Emmy Award-winner and BAFTA recipient said she also needs to drive to meet contacts for her work research and needs to think alone without the chatter of a driver.

“Sometimes I meet in motorway cafes,” explaining she also drives to prisons and homeless shelters to meet contacts.

“I am ashamed of hearing speeding fives times, but I am an exceptionally good driver and to be banned for six months would be exceedingly difficult for me.

“I would let Theo go and I would close my business,” added La Plante, explaining she is the author of “sixty or seventy” books and is currently writing four novels. 

Lavender Hill Job: Nick Freeman failed to save Linda La Plante's licence

She has owned several large breeds, including two Irish Wolfhound's; a Great Dame and a Russian Wolfhound and stressed she needed her licence to continue training and exercising Theo.

La Plante told the magistrates the death of her previous dog two years ago “broke my heart”, confirming “very much so,” when asked if Theo was a protection dog.

“I live by myself and he is very strong willed and takes a lot of training. With very big breeds it is important the owner is in control, rather than simply being walked by trainers and walkers.

“He needs to know his owner. With a dog that size he needs to be very well trained.

“I would have him re-homed if I couldn’t care for him and the emotional toll of that would damage my career as a writer. It is very solitary work and I work exceptionally hard and I would stop.”

La Plante explained she needs to keep her licence to meet important contacts, often in the criminal world. “If I get a contact that will talk to me I go to them for research.”

Dismissing the internet as no substitute for “face to face” meetings, the writer stated that is how she researches criminals and domestic abuse survivors.

“That is how I have worked since Prime Suspect and I hope to keep that,” adding she travels to prisons, homeless shelters and other unusual locations.

“It is difficult when you meet forms of criminality. They like to be very choosey about the location. My honesty and truth with these people has borne incredible details in my work.”

Her lawyer Mr Freeman asked why as somebody as successful as La Plante, who could easily afford a driver, wants to continue driving herself.

“I’ve used them in the past for showbiz functions, but for my work I never have. To drive A to B to meet someone to give details I need to hold onto that.

“I don’t want a driver talking to me. I don’t want that.

“That walk with my dog is important to me. It sheds everything and I come back refreshed.”

La Plante became emotional when recalling the previous dog she lost two years ago. “That Wolfhound would come up to my office and know I’d been working for hours.

“That paw would come up and, bang. Nothing affected me like that dog dying, he was in the prime of life. I lost it.”

Asking to keep her driving licence, she added: “I’d find it difficult on the tube and on the bus. I think I would  lose so much of my life and that walk, I need that exercise and that walk with my dog.”

La Plante claimed the stretch she’s repeatedly caught speeding on has so much confusing signage and road furniture it is difficult to fully concentrate on the 20mph limit.

“I truthfully declare before God, there will be a tragedy. There are university students jumping out and schoolchildren.”

Mr Freeman told the court, regarding Theo: “There is a very strong bond, it’s basically her life. If she was disqualified she would make the decision to close her business and there are innocent victims of that.

“The four employees would certainly suffer ‘exceptional hardship’ if you say to four people: ‘You are out of work.’ They may have mortgages, that would be a consequence.

“She is a lady with vitality and if you disqualify her a huge portion of her life will be taken away. It is a huge part of who she is.

“If you take her licence away at this age, six months off the road takes away her independence and after six months there is a loss of confidence.”

Before La Plante gave evidence he told the magistrates: “You may think this is a course of conduct with a flagrant disregard for speed limits.

“This area is fairly complex. There are an enormous amount of hazards that require a high degree of mental processing.

“There are a massive amount of visual distractions, eight or nine schools and universities, nine or ten pedestrian crossings.

“It is easy to become obsessive about the 20mph limit, but it is more important to be aware of what is going on around you.

“She has inadvertently allowed herself to go over the speed limit.

“She has travelled more than a million miles in her life and drives extensively throughout the country and abroad and in sixty-six years of driving all of her offences, bar one, are on this road.”

Bench Chairwoman Mandy Lamplough told the veteran writer: “We have considered the impact on Theo’s training, on the employees of La Plante Global and particularly on your personal well-being, but we don’t find ‘exceptional hardship’ has been made out.

“The bench feel there are alternatives to ameliorate the impact of a six-month driving ban. You will be disqualified for six months.”

After studying acting at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art La Plante turned to writing and received two Emmy Awards for Prime Suspect, plus a BAFTA award for television writing.

A recipient of a CBE La Plante made her breakthrough in 1983 with television drama ‘Widows’ and Prime Suspect ran for multiple series between 1993 and 2006.