Steve Coogan spared driving ban after using The Trip filming as excuse
In a letter to Birmingham Magistrates' Court, reported by the Evening Standard, he urged the court not to disqualify him as he had already accrued six points on his licence.
Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon (Ian West/PA)
The newspaper said the Alan Partridge actor told the court he was expected to film The Trip, which the 59-year-old appears in with co-star Rob Brydon, and a lengthy driving ban would mean 'the production would likely be unable to proceed'.
Coogan's request for five penalty points to be imposed instead of six was granted after he pleaded guilty to the offence on January 30.
He was ordered to pay a £2,500 fine, plus £90 costs and a £1,000 victim surcharge.
The Evening Standard said his letter to the court read: 'I have a series of important film commitments scheduled for 2025, many of which involve driving as a central component of the work.
'I am due to appear in a well-established TV series called The Trip which as the title suggests requires me to drive.
'This starts filming towards the end of June 2025 and if I were unable to drive, the production would likely be unable to proceed.'
Coogan previously successfully argued for a shorter driving ban at Crawley Magistrates' Court in August 2019 after being caught doing 36mph in a 30mph zone – saying an extended disqualification would mean he could not film the new series of Alan Partridge.
He was also banned from driving for 28 days at Worthing Magistrates' Court in 2016 for travelling at 54mph in a 30mph zone in a Mazda sports car.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South Wales Guardian
2 hours ago
- South Wales Guardian
Steve Coogan spared driving ban after using The Trip filming as excuse
Coogan was travelling on the M6 in a Range Rover near Telford, Shropshire, on July 29 last year when he was caught going over the 70mph speed limit, a court official said. In a letter to Birmingham Magistrates' Court, reported by the Evening Standard, he urged the court not to disqualify him as he had already accrued six points on his licence. The newspaper said the Alan Partridge actor told the court he was expected to film The Trip, which the 59-year-old appears in with co-star Rob Brydon, and a lengthy driving ban would mean 'the production would likely be unable to proceed'. Coogan's request for five penalty points to be imposed instead of six was granted after he pleaded guilty to the offence on January 30. He was ordered to pay a £2,500 fine, plus £90 costs and a £1,000 victim surcharge. The Evening Standard said his letter to the court read: 'I have a series of important film commitments scheduled for 2025, many of which involve driving as a central component of the work. 'I am due to appear in a well-established TV series called The Trip which as the title suggests requires me to drive. 'This starts filming towards the end of June 2025 and if I were unable to drive, the production would likely be unable to proceed.' Coogan previously successfully argued for a shorter driving ban at Crawley Magistrates' Court in August 2019 after being caught doing 36mph in a 30mph zone – saying an extended disqualification would mean he could not film the new series of Alan Partridge. He was also banned from driving for 28 days at Worthing Magistrates' Court in 2016 for travelling at 54mph in a 30mph zone in a Mazda sports car.
Wales Online
4 hours ago
- Wales Online
Cocaine dealer who lived the high life and flashed the cash now realises he made a mistake
Cocaine dealer who lived the high life and flashed the cash now realises he made a mistake A judge told the 26-year-old dealer: 'You were a businessman flashing the cash around, cash earned from the misery of others' Scott Boland (Image: South Wales Police ) A cocaine dealer refused to make deliveries to customers insisting they go to him to collect their deals, a court has heard. Scott Boland had been "trading" cocaine with fellow dealers involved in the supply chain. A judge said the defendant had been running a business and been "flashing the cash around", money he had earned "from the misery of others". The court heard a restraint order had been placed on Boland's bank account preventing any moneys from being transferred out. Harry Dickens, prosecuting, told Swansea Crown Court that in April last year police involved in an unrelated drugs investigation seized phones from people in Clydach. He said suspicious messages found on the phone came from a number linked to the defendant, and arrest inquiries were commenced. The court heard that on the afternoon of August 16 police officers were in Clase looking for the defendant when they spotted him in Seven Road. Boland made off on foot but was caught "after falling onto the bonnet" of his partner's parked Range Rover. A "scuffle" then developed during which an officer drew his Taser. Boland was eventually arrested and cuffed. The prosecutor said the defendant was searched and found to have £345 in his wallet. An officer then dialled the number which had previously been found on the phones in Clydach, and Boland's began to ring. For the latest court reports sign up to our crime newsletter Article continues below The court heard the defendant had been seen earlier that day driving a green Vauxhall Corsa car and officers located and searched the vehicle - inside they found "smiley face" snap-bags containing white powder. The prosecutor said police then carried out a search of the defendant's home address in Morriston where they found cash in various envelopes, weighing scales with traces of white powder, bags of white powder, a large quantity of empty "smiley face" bags of the type found in the Corsa, and an extendable baton. The court heard that the total amount of cocaine seized from the car and the house was 26.5g and the total cash seized was £2,960. The prosecutor said an analysis of Boland's phone found text messages and WhatsApp conversations related to the supply of drugs, and showed he had been sending out bulk text messages to contacts. He said in one of the exchanges a customer asked if he could "drop", that is make a delivery - Boland replied: "No. Pick up only". The prosecutor said the messages also showed the defendant was not only involved in street dealing but was "trading" and buying and selling quantities of cocaine with fellow dealers in the supply chain. Scott Boland, of Lan Street, Morriston, had previously pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine with intent to supply, being concerned in the supply of cocaine, possession of an offensive weapon in a private place, and possession of criminal property - namely cash - when he appeared in the dock for sentencing. He has one previous conviction for one offence, battery, for which he was sentenced to a conditional discharge. John Allchurch, for Boland, said the defendant began taking drugs at the age of 13 or 14, "largely due to peer pressure", and said this usage developed into a cocaine addiction. He said without a job his client then turned to dealing to fund his habit. The advocate said that, following his arrest, Boland was able to wean himself off drugs and had been drug-free since last Christmas. Judge Geraint Walters said he had read a letter written by the defendant and said it was clear Boland realised he had made a mistake and was remorseful for what he had done, but he described Class A drugs as a "scourge" on the lives of individuals and on the community as a whole and said Boland had chosen to involve himself in dealing. Article continues below He told the defendant: "This wasn't a bit of street dealing - this was a business. You lived the high-life I dare say while those pathetic addicts craving their next fix would have been living a very different life. I accept you made a mistake - but it was a mistake you chose deliberately. You were a businessman flashing the cash around, cash earned from the misery of others." With one-third discounts for his guilty pleas Bolan was sentenced to two years and eight months in prison. He will serve no more than half that sentence in custody before being released on licence to serve the remainder in the community.
Leader Live
5 hours ago
- Leader Live
Steve Coogan spared driving ban after using The Trip filming as excuse
Coogan was travelling on the M6 in a Range Rover near Telford, Shropshire, on July 29 last year when he was caught going over the 70mph speed limit, a court official said. In a letter to Birmingham Magistrates' Court, reported by the Evening Standard, he urged the court not to disqualify him as he had already accrued six points on his licence. The newspaper said the Alan Partridge actor told the court he was expected to film The Trip, which the 59-year-old appears in with co-star Rob Brydon, and a lengthy driving ban would mean 'the production would likely be unable to proceed'. Coogan's request for five penalty points to be imposed instead of six was granted after he pleaded guilty to the offence on January 30. He was ordered to pay a £2,500 fine, plus £90 costs and a £1,000 victim surcharge. The Evening Standard said his letter to the court read: 'I have a series of important film commitments scheduled for 2025, many of which involve driving as a central component of the work. 'I am due to appear in a well-established TV series called The Trip which as the title suggests requires me to drive. 'This starts filming towards the end of June 2025 and if I were unable to drive, the production would likely be unable to proceed.' Coogan previously successfully argued for a shorter driving ban at Crawley Magistrates' Court in August 2019 after being caught doing 36mph in a 30mph zone – saying an extended disqualification would mean he could not film the new series of Alan Partridge. He was also banned from driving for 28 days at Worthing Magistrates' Court in 2016 for travelling at 54mph in a 30mph zone in a Mazda sports car.
