Viscount banned from driving after racking up multiple speeding fines

A viscount was handed a six-month driving ban after he dropped an attempt to argue that a speed camera was not “properly calibrated”.

David Pollock, the 3rd Viscount Hanworth, appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday where he told Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring that he is “a cautious driver” who uses his car only to give his wife and daughter lifts.

The 80-year-old, who had been clocked speeding on three previous occasions, had already admitted doing 27mph in a 20mph zone via the single justice procedure.

He had applied to argue that the ban resulting from getting 12 points on his licence would cause him exceptional hardship, but, representing himself, dropped the attempt on Wednesday.

Mr Pollock, from Islington, north London, told the court that he uses his car only to give lifts to his wife, who has dementia, and his daughter, who has a spinal injury.

He told the court: “The only thing I can offer is the fact that I am a cautious driver who only uses his car to take his wife to a clinic and to use for my daughter who has a spinal injury.”

But the viscount withdrew his application to argue against the ban after being told that he would need to return with medical evidence at a further hearing.

He expressed “doubt that the camera is properly calibrated” and added, “I think there is a tendency to round up the figure”, although the court heard he was clocked at 27.6mph so the number had been rounded down.

Issuing a fine of £250, costs of £130 and a victim surcharge of £100, Chief Magistrate Goldspring told him: “Speed is an expensive business, don’t do it.”

The viscount had previously been caught speeding on three occasions in May and August 2024, and June 2026, meaning he already had nine points on his licence.

The latest offence, doing 27mph in a 20mph zone, took him to a total of 12 points and therefore led to a driving ban of six months.

The fine was reduced by a third because of the viscount’s early guilty plea.