Former footballer turned BBC pundit Garth Crooks has been hit with a six-month driving ban after being caught speeding again.
The former Tottenham Hotspur striker, 67, complained the speed camera that caught him was deliberately hidden but the magistrates disqualified him anyway.
Stoke-on-Trent-born Crooks, who started his career with his home town club, went onto also play for Manchester United, WBA and Charlton Athletic before embarking on a media career with the BBC.
He pleaded guilty to driving his silver 1.4 litre Mercedes A Class diesel hatchback in excess of 20mph along Camden Road, at the junction of Hillmarton Road, Holloway on January 3.
Crooks, who lives in a £2m detached five-bedroom house in Kingston Hill, Kingston-upon-Thames, represented himself during the short hearing.
Lavender Hill Magistrates’ Court heard the camera captured three separate images of Crooks’ vehicle travelling at 24mph.
However, he asked the court for a ‘little latitude’ as he claimed the speed camera was behind ‘two strategically positioned poles’.
He already had nine penalty points on his licence for two speeding offences and for failing to comply with a traffic signal.
Garth Crooks, 67, pleaded guilty to driving his silver 1.4 litre Mercedes A Class diesel hatchback in excess of 20mph along Camden Road, at the junction of Hillmarton Road, Holloway on January 3
Crooks leaving Lavender Hill Magistrate where he represented himself during the short hearing
He already had nine penalty points on his licence for two speeding offences and for failing to comply with a traffic signal. Yesterday’s three points triggered the automatic six-month ban for reaching twelve penalty points
Yesterday’s three points triggered the automatic six-month ban for reaching twelve penalty points.
Crooks – who was awarded the OBE in 1999 – told the court he was now ‘retired’ and in receipt of a £118,000 a year pension.
Showing magistrates photographs of the camera that caught him Crooks said: ‘I have come here today to admit my guilt of driving at twenty-four miles per hour in a twenty mile an hour zone.
‘I ask for a little latitude. The speed camera was behind two poles, obliterating my sight lines.
‘Had it not been for two strategically positioned poles I would have seen the camera and mediated my speed.
‘I ask the court to look at the pictures of the proximity of the posts.’
Bench Chairman D Simms told Crooks: ‘We have observed the photographs and how the camera is situated, but the speed limit does apply to that road at all times.
‘It is not a case that you should modify your speed by seeing the camera. You were speeding and that’s why you are in court today.’
Crooks, who won the FA Cup with Spurs in 1981 and 1982, along with the UEFA Cup in 1984 was fined £666, with £110 costs and ordered to pay a £266 victim surcharge
Crooks, who won the FA Cup with Spurs in 1981 and 1982, along with the UEFA Cup in 1984 was fined £666, with £110 costs and ordered to pay a £266 victim surcharge.
‘It is the lowest level of seriousness for this offence,’ added Mr Simms.
‘However, you have nine points on your record and this makes twelve points so you are disqualified from driving for six months for a totting offence.
‘The offence of driving while disqualified is taken very seriously and could attract a custodial sentence.
‘Make sure you are free to drive before you get behind the wheel again.’
