Ban for film-maker Ritchie caught on camera by cyclist
FILM director Guy Ritchie has been banned from driving for six months after being caught on camera texting at the wheel of his Range Rover.
The brains behind Lock, Stock And Two Smoking Barrels admitted the offence after he was caught in GoPro footage taken by cyclist Mike van Erp.
Mr van Erp confronted the 51-year-old after spotting him staring at his iPhone while crawling in traffic through London’s Hyde Park. He previously launched a campaign after his father was killed in a motorcycle accident.
He reported Madonna’s ex-husband to police and the three penalty points he received took his total to the limit of 12.
Mr van Erp, 48 said: “I saw his iPhone lit up with message bubbles and a message in process of being typed.”
Married
In the video clip of last November’s incident, Ritchie realises he is being observed and winds down his window to say: “Hello my friend.” The cyclist replies: “I don’t think you should be using text messages while driving.”
Multi-millionaire Ritchie, now married to model Jacqui Ainsley, 38, pleaded guilty to using a handheld mobile phone while driving a motor vehicle on a road.
Bromley magistrates banned him from driving for six months after Tuesday’s hearing and ordered him to pay a £666 fine as well as £166 in costs and court fees. He gave his address as the Georgian townhouse in London he bought for £6million in 2010.
Mr van Erp’s footage has secured scores of prosecutions. He said of Ritchie: “I had no idea it was him. Drivers should not be doing this and people like me are a deterrent.”
Guy Ritchie is caught texting while sitting in London traffic; inset, with wife Jacqui Ainsley; right, cyclist Mike van Erp who took the footage