Former Arsenal footballer and current Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson has been banned from driving for six months after he was caught speeding four times. He pled guilty in Guildford Magistrates Court at a disqualification hearing but was unable to avoid having his licence taken away and a heavy fine.
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After receiving 12 penalty points, Merson was also fined £2,640, must pay a victim surcharge of £1,056 and prosecution costs of £110 within 28 days.
Chief Magistrate Joan Lindsay admitted that the former Gunners playmaker's previous driving record was “not great” and warned him: “You mustn’t drive on any UK road once you leave court.”
He was caught speeding 47mph in a 40mph limit on the A316 Great Chertsey Road in Feltham, south west London, on September 9, and clocked once again on the same road just two days later.
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The 21-cap former England international was later caught seven mph over the speed limit in Sunbury on October 1, three offences within a month. Merson was already facing a punishment for driving 60mph in a 50mph limit on the M3 at Thorpe, Surrey, on February 27 last year.
The Guildford court heard he already had amassed nine points on his driving licence for speeding twice in 2021 and once in 2022, as defending barrister Nicholas Maggs claimed that the new offences were "relatively modest" speeds and the driving ban will have a "substantial" effect on Merson's life as his wife doesn't drive.
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“On his behalf, I wish to put forward his remorse for these offences," Maggs said. "He accepts it’s not acceptable.
“Through me he apologises to the court for finding himself before the court and finding himself disqualified for driving. It’s going to make things substantially more difficult."
The barrister then brought up Merson's openness regarding his previous alcohol, gambling and drug addictions as an indication of the 56-year-old's positive character and willingness to help others.
He explained: “I’m sure the court will appreciate Mr Merson experienced a number of difficulties in his younger life and has now chosen to use these positively through unpaid speaking events to help younger people from suffering mental health problems.”
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