Friday, 15 December 2023

Tarby's Car: Veteran Comic's Hit-And-Run Crash

Veteran entertainer Jimmy Tarbuck has been caught after a hit-
and-run crash into parked cars near his £5.5m home in one of south-west London’s most exclusive neighbourhoods.

The 83 year-old comedian was recorded driving his two-litre green Lexus away from the scene on a neighbour’s Ring doorbell - leaving a row of damaged vehicles behind.


Liverpool-born Tarbuck - affectionately known as ’Tarby’ - did not appear before Lavender Hill Magistrates’ Court, where he pleaded guilty to the offences by post.


The court heard the collision occurred in Coombe Gardens, New Malden, near Tarbuck’s home, New Hartwell, Coombe Park, Kingston-upon-Thames, a private gated community.


He pleaded guilty to driving without due care and attention; failing to stop after an accident and failing to report an accident on May 15.


Tarbuck was fined £716, with £110 costs and ordered to pay a £286 victim surcharge.


His clean driving licence was endorsed with five penalty points.


Prosecutor Laura-Ann Harding told the court the incident occurred at approximately 3.30pm: “The defendant drove a vehicle without due care and attention.


“They collided heavily into stationary vehicles, causing severe damage and at the same time an accident occurred with another vehicle, a Vauxhall Corsa and they failed to stop when required and give their name and address.


“Multiple vehicles were hit and one was shunted forward three houses. Nobody was injured as all the vehicles were parked and empty at the time.”


The magistrates were played footage from the Ring doorbell, which showed Tarbuck slowly dragging along the Vauxhall Corsa beside his car and then continuing away from the scene. 


Tarbuck, whose sixty-year career in showbusiness includes hosting ’Sunday Night at the London Palladium’ in the mid-sixties, which enjoyed an eighties reboot as ‘Live from Her Majesty’s.’


He has also hosted tv game shows ‘Winner Takes All’; ‘Full Swing’ and Tarby’s Frame Game,’ and was the regular host of ‘Tarby’s Bar’ during ITV’s coverage of the FA Cup Final.


Tarbuck, who has three children, including actress Liza, sent a letter to the court apologising for his actions.


Bench Chair Dr. Samantha Cobb announced: “We have read his mitigation and the bench fully accept he is full of remorse and is deeply apologetic.


“We accept this was utterly out of keeping with his character and we take into account he had recently lost his sister and it had been her funeral in the preceding days.


“He says he cannot explain why he did not stop that day.”

No comments:

Post a Comment