Vodka Heiress Caught On Phone By 'CyclingMikey'

Porsche: Marinika Smirnova

Former Miss Russia and heiress to the Smirnoff vodka empire, Marinika Smirnova, was caught driving through Hyde Park while on her phone by road-safety activist ‘CyclingMikey’, a court heard.

The 40 year-old star of Fox TV’s ‘Meet The Russians’ was just one mile away from her six-bedroom £4.7m apartment in Queen’s Gate, Kensington when she was recorded by the infamous YouTuber.

She failed to appear at Lavender Hill Magistrates’ Court, where she was fined £220, with £620 costs, ordered to pay an additional £88 surcharge and received six penalty points on her driving licence.

The model and professional dancer - related to Pierre Smirnoff, who supplied his vodka to the court of Emperor Nicholas Romanov II - was convicted of using a handheld mobile phone while driving along West Carriage drive on December 10, last year.

Lavender Hill Job: Mike Van Erp

‘CyclingMikey’ - real name Michael Van Erp, 50, - was walking his bike through the park when he spotted Smirnova at the wheel of her red 3.8 litre Porsche, with personalised number plate SM11NOV.

Cycling around west London he has captured hundred of motorists using their phones and assisted prosecutions against ex-footballer Frank Lampard; movie director Guy Ritchie, former boxer Chris Eubank and comedy producer Jimmy Mulville.

He has posted the Smirnova encounter on his youtube channel and the GoPro footage was also played in court to the magistrates.

“It was 1.00pm and I was walking my bike on the pavement  in Hyde Park and I noticed a red Porsche in the queue of traffic,” Zimbabwe-born Dutchman Van Erp told the trial. “I noticed the driver was using a mobile phone.

“She had her head down in her lap and I could clearly see the driver was on her phone.”

Van Erp circled around the rear of the Porsche and pedalled up to the driver’s side.

“I saw the lit-up screen on the phone and some changes in the apps she was navigating through.

“As I leaned in the female driver put the phone away and looked at me, a disdainful look and I don’t blame her for that.

“I did not recognise the driver, but I have since searched her and she is a bit of a celebrity.

“I look for road behaviours, not particular people or particular cars, although I do admire her good personal plate.”

Smirnova did not respond to the police offer of a fixed penalty and applied to adjourn the trial at short notice because she is out of the country.

However, this was rejected by the magistrates, who convicted her and bench Chairman John Soones announced: “The phone was in her hand and we feel it was being used.”

He told Van Erp at the trial’s conclusion: “What you do is sensible and you assist the police in collecting evidence.”