Ferdinand banned from driving

27 October 2010 13:37
Sunderland defender Anton Ferdinand has been banned from driving for six months.[LNB] The 25-year-old was convicted of using a mobile phone while driving his white Range Rover on July 13.[LNB]Ferdinand was banned because he already had 12 points on his licence from a previous offence.[LNB]The defender, of Baltic Quays, Newcastle, spoke only to answer his name and address during the brief hearing before Newcastle magistrates.[LNB]He was fined £1,000, ordered to pay £85 court costs and a £15 victim surcharge.[LNB]Prosecuting, Kerry Gate said Ferdinand was stopped by a police officer who had followed the defender from the Tyne Bridge to Ponteland Road, two miles away.[LNB]Mrs Gate said: "He was leaning towards the centre of the car as if leaning on an armrest and had his mobile telephone in his left hand against his left ear.[LNB]"As the officer drew up alongside, he realised he was a police officer and immediately put the phone down from his ear."[LNB]Ferdinand told the officer he was on his way to the airport and that he had needed to take the call, which was from his mother.[LNB]Asked whether it was an emergency, he replied: "Not an emergency, but it needed to happen."[LNB]The court heard Ferdinand had served a previous six-month driving ban imposed in May 2007, after exceeding the points limit.[LNB]Mitigating, Anthony Senior said Ferdinand had answered a call from his mother about a personal family matter.[LNB]He said: "It was of paramount importance to him. He realises it was a silly thing to do."

Source: Team_Talk