Source: Telegraph
Ashley Cole banned from driving for doing 100mph in 50mph zone
The Chelsea star, who launched an immediate appeal, claimed he was being chased by photographers when a speed gun recorded him driving his black Lamborghini Gallardo at 104mph.[LNB]Magistrates at Kingston imposed a four-month ban and £1,000 fine and warned the star he could face prison if he flouted the ban.[LNB]Fabio Capellos England can learn from women who earn £16,000 a yearMorgan Stanley fined £1.4m over rogue trader failuresBarcelona v Chelsea: How to stop Lionel MessiHowever, Cole's legal team immediately launched an appeal putting his sentence on hold until a hearing at a Crown Court.[LNB]Cole, 29, who is married to singer and presenter Cheryl Cole, was on the A3 in Kingston, Surrey, when he was clocked speeding.[LNB]Though he denied the charge he was convicted at an earlier hearing.[LNB]In mitigation, Cole's lawyer Katherine Hodson said: ''There was no suggestion given by police that there was any cause for concern about Mr Cole's driving, except for his speed.''[LNB]But the magistrates said the sentence should reflect the fact Cole was more than twice the 50mph limit.[LNB]Patricia Baskerville, a magistrate, said: ''We have taken into account Mr Cole's clean licence however this was an incident of excessive speed, over twice the speed limit on the road, and these were exceptional circumstances which we need to mark.[LNB]''For the offence of speeding, Mr Cole will be disqualified for a period of four months and will pay a fine of £1,000.''[LNB]He was also ordered to pay a £15 victim surcharge and £300 costs to reflect his income and the seriousness of the offence.[LNB]Cole, who was not present, was warned if he did drive while disqualified, he could face prison.[LNB]His defence barrister asked for 21 days to pay, which magistrates laughed at but granted - Cole reputedly earns around £100,000 a week.[LNB]Minutes later Miss Hodson launched an appeal and the sentence was put on hold.[LNB]She said her client was ''regrettably'' unable to attend the hearing because he was playing a match tomorrow night and would be travelling today.[LNB]An attempt by her to get sentencing adjourned was rejected, as was a previous bid to get the case thrown out on a technicality.[LNB]However, the court was told Cole had had ample opportunity to attend the four magistrates' court hearings.[LNB]At the earlier trial, Richard Lomax, prosecuting, described the events of November 17 2008.[LNB]He said: ''The defendant was stopped and spoken to and the words he said at the time, when it became plain that somebody was pointing a speed camera at him, were 'Can't you do anything about those idiots who keep chasing me?'.''[LNB]Cole, of Elstead Road, Shackleford, Surrey, told police he thought he was driving at 80mph when he was stopped just after midday.[LNB]Mr Lomax said: ''The Crown says there can be no other sensible construction of the words uttered by Mr Cole at the time than that he was conceding he was driving at a speed more than 50mph.[LNB]''It is plain that he found the attention of persons with cameras unwelcome and he was trying to get away from them.[LNB]''The only sensible inference, therefore, is that he was going too quickly.''[LNB]He added: ''It cannot be a defence to the offence of speeding that one is trying to get away in the circumstances of members of the press showing excessive attention.''[LNB]John Wills, a transport officer for Surrey Police who was carrying out speed checks on Robin Hood Way that day, said he noticed Cole's car because ''it seemed to be travelling considerably faster'' than any other vehicle.[LNB]Pc Wills and a colleague got into a police car after recording his speed and Cole pulled over in a nearby bus stop.[LNB]Cole was asked to get out of the car by Pc Wills, who told the court: ''I asked him if he knew what the speed limit was on that stretch of road, and he replied 50.[LNB]''Then I asked him what speed he was doing, and he said 80mph. I pointed out he was doing considerably more than that and showed him the laser device.''[LNB]The officer said that after being cautioned, Cole complained about photographers.[LNB]Pc Wills said: ''He pointed out that there was a man with a camera some distance further down the road.[LNB]''I saw him (the photographer) at that time, but I had no idea when he turned up. He was certainly not in evidence when I first saw the Lamborghini.''[LNB]No date or venue has yet to be fixed for the Crown Court appeal.[LNB]
