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BY ANDY LINES RIO Ferdinand was handed a six-month driving ban yesterday – after his plea to be spared because his kids couldn’t catch the bus to school due to Covid-19 was rejected.
The former Manchester United and England captain was clocked doing 85mph on a 70mph dual carriageway – with the three penalty points taking him to the 12-point limit.
He pled for leniency when he appeared at Crawley Magistrates’ Court yesterday.
But the BT Sport pundit, who had previously pled guilty, was banned and fined a total of £822.
Ferdinand, 41, whose second wife Kate is expecting his fourth child, was driving a brand-new Mercedes on the A27 near Hangleton, Sussex, in July last year when he was caught speeding.
He already had nine points on his licence after three offences – in 2017, 2018 and in May 2019.
Ferdinand, who lives in
Orpington, London, applied for hardship circumstances to try to get a lighter punishment.
He told the court he had an important role in transporting his three children to and from school – and said Covid-19 meant he was unwilling for them to travel by bus.
The former defender, whose first wife Rebecca died from cancer in 2015, also claimed that his children are still facing trauma following the death of their mother.
Prosecution lawyer Sharon Allen asked him: “Does your wife drive?”
Ferdinand replied: “Yes, but it is very difficult with three children. The times are very different when they have to be there.”
He added: “Normally we would have a school bus, but now that is difficult because of Covid.”
The lawyer then asked whether he would pay for a chauffeur or a taxi. Ferdinand said: “I wouldn’t allow it because my profile doesn’t allow it.”
Magistrate Geoffrey Allen told him: “Covid has affected everyone in the whole world in the same way. This does not meet hardship, therefore you will be disqualified.”
Ferdinand was also banned from driving in 2012 after being caught speeding on the same road near Old Trafford three times in less than six weeks.