Ex-Eastender star Dean Gaffney has been banned from driving for six months after he was caught speeding at 116mph down a motorway.
The 31-year-old actor, who played Robbie Jackson in the BBC soap and was also a contestant on ITV’s I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here!, pleaded guilty to driving without due care and attention at Stoke on Trent Magistrates' Court on Friday.
Gaffney, who lives near Leatherhead, was clocked driving his Audi TT convertible at 115mph in foggy conditions near Junction 14 of the M6 in Staffordshire on November 29 last year, the court heard.
His solicitor, Tim Boswell, said Gaffney accepted he was travelling in excess of 100mph but thought the 115mph was not accurate.
Magistrates heard Gaffney had a number of previous motoring offences and a total of 18 points on his licence.
They heard he had only escaped a driving ban in the past because he had been able to cite the “exceptional hardship” of not being able to visit his unwell mother if he did not have a car.
Tim Boswell defending said Mr Gaffney accepted he had made an “error of judgement” and didn’t think he was “above the law.”
He said the court hearing was taking place on Gaffney’s twin 13-year-old daughters’ birthdays and that Gaffney had “not tried to get out of the proceedings” to attend their celebrations.
Mr Boswell said a ban would have a huge impact on Gaffney because he might get a job in the summer in a touring play and need a car.
Magistrates disqualified the soap star from driving for six months, and ordered him to pay a £160 fine, costs of £300 and a £15 victim surcharge.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here