Speeding Football Pundit Rio Ferdinand Loses Driving Licence

Court Out: Rio Leaving Crawley Magistrates'

Former footballer Rio Ferdinand was banned from driving for six months yesterday after being clocked at 85mph in his new Mercedes.

The 41 year-old former Manchester United, Leeds United, West Ham United and England star broke the 70mph speed limit on the A27 dual carriageway in Hove, East Sussex.

Ferdinand, of Knowl Wood Lane, Farnborough, Orpington, was convicted of speeding at the Hangleton interchange at 8.27pm 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 latest offence, which carried three penalty points, was added to the nine he already has and triggered the automatic disqualification.

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 COVID pandemic meant a private driver or taxis were out of the question, claimed Ferdinand.

However, this was rejected by magistrate Mr. Geoffrey Allen, who told him: “Unfortunately COVID has effected everybody in the world the same way.”

Ferdinand was also fined £670, with £85 costs and ordered to pay a £67 victim surcharge.

Ferdinand was banned in 2012 for six months for speeding three times on the same stretch of road in  five-week period.

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. 

Ferdinand’s representative Mr. Udo Onwere asked the magistrates not to disqualify his client. “The last three to four years have been an extremely difficult period in Mr. Ferdinand’s life.

“Family bereavements have effectively made him a single parent, though he has a new relationship with his new wife who is pregnant.

“Rio lost his mother two years ago. She was the primary carer for the children as Rio previously lost his wife.”

Ferdinand’s children are Lorenz, 12, Tate, 10 and Tia, 8. Their mother, Rebecca, died in 2015.

“He has three children and he has to travel around to public events, to school. He is a public figure, which makes this difficult and there has been trauma in their lives.

“The children rely on Mr. Ferdinand to take them to their different events and this is exacerbated by COVID, which makes it difficult for Mr. Ferdinand to employ somebody outside or use public transport because they are too young to use it.

“He understands speeding is not something to be looked on proudly.

“He has battled on a daily basis to maintain the safety of his children and driving them on a daily basis is a huge part of that.”