RIO BANNED FROM DRIVING
He’s off the road for the sixth time
Last week, Rio Ferdinand was banned from driving for six months and ordered to pay almost £1k in fines and costs after he was caught doing 85mph on a dual carriageway last July. This is the football pundit’s sixth ban – the last time was in 2012, after he was caught speeding three times on the same road within six weeks.
The 41-year-old – who is expecting a baby with wife Kate – appeared at Crawley Magistrates’ Court last week and begged to be able to keep his licence, pleading that he would not want his kids to use public transport or taxis. He told the court that the trauma of his children – Lorenz, 13, Tate, 11, and Tia, nine – losing their mother and grandmother, as well as the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, meant he needed to keep his driving licence. Rio’s first wife, Rebecca, died of breast cancer in 2015, after which his mother Janice stepped in to help care for the children. She then sadly died of cancer in 2017.
At the hearing, Rio’s lawyer, Udo Onwere, told the court, “He has to travel with his kids. He is very protective towards his children, who have had a massive trauma twice in their lives. They really rely on him to take them to and from events.” When asked if his wife, 29-year-old Kate, drives, Rio responded, “Yes, but it’s very difficult with three children.”
The magistrate eventually ruled the ban would stay, telling the pundit, “We have listened carefully about your hardship. You told us that your wife drives and COVID has affected the way you deal with your children, but COVID has affected everyone in the whole world in the same way.”