Drive ban means I can’t help care for Michael Caine says his daughter
Judge rejects plea that Dominique Caine needs to be able to drive to look after her 89-year-old father
SIR MICHAEL CAINE’S daughter has been banned from driving for six months despite pleading with a judge that she needs her vehicle to help care for her 89-year-old father.
Dominique Caine was caught travelling at 64mph in a 50mph zone in her Range Rover on the A436 in the Cotswolds on May 3 last year.
Ms Caine, 65, was handed three penalty points for the offence which took her to 12, meaning she was liable for a six-month ban. Ms Caine pleaded guilty to the driving charge on Nov 15 last year.
After taking the case to court, she claimed the ban would make it more difficult for her to travel into London to visit her father but Judge Nicholas Wattam imposed the full penalty regardless.
Ms Caine’s relationship to the actor emerged during the hearing at Cheltenham magistrates’ court, when the judge read a letter of support from her mother, Shakira Caine.
Judge Wattam asked defence lawyer James Findon: “Are we dealing with a famous name? I have a number of letters of support from Shakira Caine. Therefore are we talking about Sir Michael?”
Mr Findon confirmed that Ms Caine was indeed Sir Michael’s daughter.
Judge Wattam responded: “So money isn’t really an issue with this family?”
Mr Findon replied: “The issue isn’t financial. The issue is the flexibility with which she is able to assist in providing care for her father. She provides care to her father, who is based in London. If she was deprived of her ability to drive it would necessitate the use of three trains and two buses. The travel time would be in excess of eight hours.”
He said Ms Caine also needed to be able to drive so she could continue to help a woman who was struggling to run an eventing business. The business owner believed that without Ms Caine’s help and input she would not be able to keep afloat, he said. Mr Findon stated: “I think the effect on the eventing business would be exceptional for the lady, who may struggle to keep it going. The loss of Ms Caine’s help and support will affect the people who have horses at the stables, and ultimately affect her ability to pay her bills.”
He also argued it would be impossible for Ms Caine to get to the stables by taxi, adding: “These journeys would be at sporadic times, and being in a rural location, it’s not a realistic option. Additionally, if Ms Caine is travelling to an event at the weekend, this would not in fact work. The taxi driver would not hang around all day.”
The judge explained that a driving ban for someone on 12 points or more could only be avoided if it was proved they would face “exceptional hardship”.
He also suggested that Ms Caine could employ a driver, if required. Mr Findon said that was something he and Ms Caine had discussed.
“Drivers these days are a scarcity, especially when dealing with unusual and anti-social hours,” said Mr Findon. “Ms Caine is at the stables at 6am and is still there at 10pm.”
But, disqualifying her from driving for six months, Judge Wattam said: “You pleaded guilty to speeding at 64mph in a 50mph zone and you will be fined £200 for this. Your driving licence will be endorsed with three penalty points which, because you already have nine points recorded on it, makes you a ‘totter’ for which you have to be banned from driving. I am unable to find exceptional hardship in your case and therefore I must disqualify you from driving for the next six months.”