Gareth beats a drive ban after ‘hardship’ plea
FORMER Pop Idol star Gareth Gates has escaped a driving ban after telling magistrates it would cause his ex-wife and daughter “extreme hardship” if he could not get to shows.
Gates was stopped by police after he was caught in his Range Rover travelling at 47mph in a 30mph zone in his home town of Bradford.
The 32-year-old singer already had nine points on his licence for three previous speeding endorsements when he was stopped on January 22.
He admitted speeding and pleaded his case not to be banned at Bradford magistrates court.
Gareth, who has a stutter, was unable to say his name when asked by the court clerk. The clerk said it for him. The singer faced disqualification under totting up rules as he would have more than 12 points on his licence.
But he said a driving ban would result in a heavy financial loss to his former wife and their child because he would be unable to fulfil professional, personal and charity commitments.
Busy
His solicitor Ashfaq Chowdhury told the bench that since rocketing to fame on Pop Idol 15 years ago, Gates has enjoyed a busy career which now takes him all over the country.
He said: “He drives on his own and is a one-man band. His Range Rover is full to the brim with equipment, musical instruments, clothes and outfits. He drives thousands of miles each month when he is on the road performing in the UK.”
Mr Chowdhury said his client has many imminent bookings and a ban would lead to him breaching contracts.
As well as his entertainment responsibilities, Gates drives 5,000 miles a year promoting his health drink at Holland & Barrett stores, the court heard.
Mr Chowdhury added: “I’m not sure how he finds the time in the day to do his work for five charities.”
The solicitor said these include The McGuire Programme, which offers speech therapy for people with a stammer. “If he was disqualified the charities would be the first to suffer,” added Mr Chowdhury. Gates also has significant financial commitments for child maintenance and paying his ex-wife, the court heard.
“A disqualification would cause them exceptional hardship,” claimed the defence solicitor, who added: “He makes no excuse for his driving history. This young man needs to be on the road.”
Chairman Yunus Mayat told Gates: “We do find exceptional hardship, not on yourself, but on other parties.
“Your family and ex-wife and child would suffer exceptional hardship if you had to look for alternative transport arrangements.”
Mr Mayat advised Gates to drive very carefully for the next two to three years. He said: “You are a role model to a lot of people and driving at this sort of speed doesn’t help.”