Reality TV star Jake Quickenden has cited the breakdown of his marriage to influencer Sophie Church to avoid a driving ban.
The singer, who found fame on X Factor and went on to be runner-up in I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! was facing an automatic disqualification after he was caught using his phone in his car.
But magistrates showed leniency after he explained that the collapse of his marriage to influencer Sophie Church meant he was regularly carrying out school and nursery runs as they had split childcare equally.
He also said it was essential to his mother’s mental health that he is able to drive the three children to see her several hours away.
Quickenden added being unable to drive would have a ‘catastrophic’ effect on his career as he would be fined for breaching contracts if he was unable to work.
The 37-year-old already had six penalty points on his licence for two speeding offences, the latest having occurred in 2023.
The six points he could expect after admitting using his phone in his car would have triggered a totting-up driving ban lasting at least six months.
Magistrates in Colchester, Essex, added the points but took into account his comments that allow leniency if a defendant can show losing their licence would cause exceptional hardship for them or others.
Jake Quickenden, 37, pictured with wife Sophie Church, 33, cited the breakdown of their marriage to avoid a driving ban
They agreed to let him keep driving due to the impact it would have on his children, his former partner, his mother and his career.
Speaking after the hearing, Quickenden said: ‘It was just a silly mistake that unfortunately I made, with no thought process whatsoever.
‘It put a lot of strain on me to even think about losing my licence. It was not great at all.
‘If you get caught doing something you shouldn’t, it is deserved. But it won’t happen again.’
Former footballer Quickenden, who appeared in the ninth and eleventh seasons of the X Factor and was the runner-up in I’m a Celeb… in 2014, revealed last month that he had split from Church, 33, ‘a few months ago’ – almost four years after they married in Ibiza.
Sharing a photo of the couple with their children Leo, five, and Kit, one, as well as Sophie’s son Freddie, 12, from a previous relationship, he said they had ‘grown apart’.
‘Me and Sophie have unfortunately separated. It’s been a few months now, tried to keep it private for us to come to terms with it and navigate it properly, while it also involves our beautiful children,’ he wrote.
‘But sometimes things are taken out of our hands, I guess it’s kinda hypocritical from my side, sharing my life on social media but then wanting privacy in a super hard moment. But we did just want to deal with it together.’
Quickenden told magistrates in Colchester that he needed his car to transport his two children with Ms Church and her child from a previous relationship to and from schools and nurseries. He also said a driving ban would affect his work
He continued: ‘Firstly Sophie is an amazing person and mother and we shared some very special moments together that I will always cherish.
‘We have beautiful children together and they will always come first. I have respect and love for her and I want her to succeed in everything she does. I will always have her back.
‘Unfortunately as a couple we just grew apart and it became hard to function together. I hope we both find our happiness, I know we both deserve that.’
Quickenden added that the couple would be focusing on ‘co-parenting’.
‘For now I’m going to be concentrating on the boys, co-parenting in a healthy loving way which I know we will 100 per cent be able to do because we are already doing that,’ he said.
‘When the dust settles we will be popping round to each other’s for a brew to chat about the kids and like I said I want nothing but the best for Sophie.
‘Been a tough few months please be kind to both parties and also didn’t even wanna do a cringe post like this but for certain reasons had to. (sic)’
Quickenden was caught breaking the law in Norwich on June 17, three months after the last photo of the couple together with two of their three children, which was posted on Instagram.
The singer made his name on The X Factor, which he took part in twice
In court on Thursday last week, he explained he was heading home to Essex from work and was putting his address into a satnav app on his phone prior to the drive.
He placed the phone in a holder and was stopped by police at a nearby roundabout where he admitted the offence.
‘Firstly, massive lack in judgement. It was stupid on my part,’ he told the court.
‘It couldn’t have been in my hand any longer than 20-30 seconds. I’ve got children, so I never use my phone in the car. I’m really, really, sorry that it happened.’
The defendant added he had recently split from his wife, was in the process of buying a new house for himself, and was involved in school and nursery drop-offs and pick-ups.
His mother, who he pays to work for him, was unwell, the court heard, and seeing the children was important to her mental wellbeing.
Quickenden also presented documents to prove current work contracts in the entertainment industry, including filming for a forthcoming BBC programme and a theatre show at Butlin’s.
Forfeiting his licence would impact his ability to perform in the show, he argued, causing loss of earnings for himself and the business, as well as affecting the 2,500 people who had bought tickets.
Quickenden with Jimmy Bullard on I’m A Celebrity…
He told the court he would be fined for breaching contracts if he is unable to work.
‘The industry that I am in is very much about being reliable and being a good person,’ Quickenden said.
‘It could affect other contracts in the industry I am in. It would be catastrophic.’
Magistrates also ordered him to pay a £692 fine, a £277 victim surcharge and £120 in costs.
