Pop Idol star Gareth Gates has been slapped with a driving ban after speeding.
Marking his fourth offence in less than three years, the 40 year old singer won't be behind the wheel for six months following his latest run-in with the law on 6 April this year.
He was caught by a speed camera doing 62mph in a 50mph zone on the M4 in Port Talbot, South Wales, while cruising in his black Range Rover Sport. Initially planning to argue "exceptional hardship" to avoid a ban, Gates ditched that plan and emailed Cardiff Magistrates Court to handle his case without him on Thursday.
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The Sun reports that District Judge Charlotte Murphy declared: "Mr Gates has nine points on his license for three offences of speeding. He will be disqualified from driving for six months."
The 'Unchained Melody' crooner also copped a £230 fine, reduced to £153 due to his guilty plea. Back in 2017, Gates faced a similar threat of a ban after racking up points from four speeding incidents, including one where he was stopped doing 47mph in a 30mph zone near his Bradford home.
However, he managed to dodge the ban then by convincing magistrates that it would severely impact his professional, personal, and charity work, leading to significant financial loss, reports the Mirror.
Gareth – dad to 15 year old Missy with his former wife Suzanne – revealed to the court that he's a "one-man band, driving himself to engagements with his Range Rover full to the brim with equipment, musical instruments, clothes and outfits."
The singer rose to fame after a stint on the ITV talent show Pop Idol back in 2002. He was the runner-up of the show's first series and is also known for playing the title role of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat after moving to theatre back in 2009.
From then on, Gates also performed in Les Miserables, Legally Blonde and Boogie Nights the Musical in Concert.
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