Birmingham Post

Rolls linked to ex-player Heskey in race on M6

Company fined after refusing to disclose driver’s identity

- Carl Jackson Local Democracy Reporter

AROLLS Royce linked to former Aston Villa and Birmingham City star Emile Heskey was spotted racing on the M6, a court heard.

A witness said the luxury car undertook them ‘for no reason’ approachin­g the Junction 2 exit for Coventry as it appeared to be trying to ‘gain an advantage’ over a white Mercedes.

The Rolls was traced back to a company called Emile Heskey Promotions Ltd, which names the exEngland internatio­nal as one of its directors.

The business, based in Stoke-onTrent according to Companies House, repeatedly failed to comply with requests from West Midlands Police to identify the driver of the vehicle.

At Birmingham Magistrate­s’ Court the firm was fined £770 as well as ordered to pay a £77 victim surcharge and £110 in costs. Neither Mr Heskey or any other representa­tive of the company showed for the hearing.

The business had previously submitted by post a guilty plea to a charge of failing to give informatio­n relating to the identifica­tion of a driver when required.

The motorway incident took place on September 13 last year.

Prosecutor Robin Johnson said: “This was a result of an incident at half past five on September 13 on the M6 heading towards Coventry, junction 2.

“A report was received by the traffic investigat­ion unit about an allegation of driving standards involving a Rolls Royce, of which the registered keeper is Emile Heskey Promotions.

“The witness was travelling along the M6 towards junction 2 where signs stated vehicles must keep two chevrons apart. The vehicle undertook them for no reason and was racing with a white Mercedes. Both continued trying to gain an advantage over each other, reducing the space in between.”

Mr Johnson stated that a number of letters and prosecutio­n notices

were sent to Emile Heskey Promotions but the firm replied saying it did not know who was behind the wheel.

The prosecutor added the company was further informed it was their responsibi­lity to know the driver to

which they answered that it could have been one of seven people.

Mr Johnson told the court that the police then requested the names and addresses of all seven individual­s for paperwork to be sent to them, but the business has yet to respond.

 ??  ?? > Emile Heskey is a former Aston Villa and Birmingham City star
> Emile Heskey is a former Aston Villa and Birmingham City star

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