12-month driving ban for ex-cricketer Shane Warne after sixth speeding offence

Australian former cricketer Shane Warne has been banned from driving for 12 months after racking up six speeding offences within three years.

The ex-spin bowler admitted breaking a 40mph limit in a hired Jaguar car in Kensington last year when he already had 15 penalty points on his licence, Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court heard on Monday.

The 50-year-old, who was not in court for the hearing, was clocked at 47mph at 6.29am on a slip road on August 23.

Warne, widely regarded as one of the best bowlers to play the game, was also ordered to pay a total of £1,845 to the court.

Deputy District Judge Adrian Turner questioned why Warne was not automatically banned after collecting 12 points.

Barry Warburton, defending, said said system errors mean drivers can avoid disqualification.

He said: “You get people on the road with 30 points.

“There might be a slight change of address, maybe the date of birth was entered wrongly, you can actually have a high amount of points without actually totting.”

The ban means Warne, who is currently in Scotland for the Alfred Dunhill golf tournament, cannot drive in any country within the EU.

Mr Warburton said he did not know if Warne held an Australian licence but said he would be uninsured if he tried to drive in Australia on his British licence.

The judge told the court: “The purpose of disqualification is to punish and to protect the public and to deter.

“Between April 2016 and August last year Warne committed six speeding offences.

“It may well be that none on its own were particularly serious but for points disqualification purposes the triviality of the offences is not to be taken into account.

“A period of 12 months is necessary for the purposes I have mentioned.”

Warne, of Little Venice, west London, was ordered to pay £775 in costs, fined £900, and must pay a surcharge of £170.

In 2013, he was fined £500 after admitting driving at more than 100mph on a motorway in Scotland.

Warne took 708 wickets in 145 Tests for Australia before retiring from international cricket in 2007.