- Goldsmith was caught speeding on two highways in late December.
- He is the last big name prosecuted under the single justice procedure.
- The former minister was fined £5,500 and ordered to pay a £2,000 surcharge.
Former Environment Minister Zac Goldsmith was banned from driving for a year after violating the speed limit several times in 2023.
Jemima Goldsmith, brother of the ex-wife of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, broke speed limits seven times in her Volkswagen Golf hybrid on London roads in Paddington, Chelsea and Twickenham between April and November 2023. guardian reported on Monday.
A judge also warned Goldsmith that speeding drivers “emit more harmful emissions” after he was caught speeding on two motorways, most recently in December, Westminster magistrates' court heard today.
On April 27, 2023, he was caught driving on Chelsea Embankment at 47 km/h, even though the limit was 32 km/h, the Independent reported citing court documents.
Just over a month later, on May 31, the former minister drove at 75km/h on the A316 at Twickenham, which has a 65km/h limit. He was caught speeding on that same highway on August 3, while he was driving at 75 km/h.
A month before the August incident, on July 18, Lord Goldsmith exceeded the 32 km/h limit on Bayswater Road, next to Kensington Gardens, while traveling at 45 km/h.
Benjamin Waidhofer, defending, said Lord Goldsmith had shown remorse for his offending and was “not someone who was manifestly defying the usual speed limits”.
After pleading guilty to all offences, the pair were fined £5,500 and ordered to pay a £2,000 surcharge and £700 costs.
He is the latest big name to be prosecuted under the single justice procedure, which was introduced in 2015 to allow courts to act in private and deal with cases based solely on paperwork.
