Tory peer Zac Goldsmith banned from driving and ordered to pay £8,000 after committing 11 speeding offenses in two years – The Sun
ZAC Goldsmith has been banned from driving and ordered to pay an £8,000 fine after committing 11 speeding offenses in two years.
The Tory peer and former Environment Secretary was convicted by Westminster magistrates court Today.
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Goldsmith, 49, was ordered to pay £8,200 after being caught speeding several times.
The former Environment Minister was given 12 penalty points on his driving license for four speeding incidents between May 2022 and March last year, the court heard.
The Tory peer was punished with fixed fines and points on his license, but was not disqualified the driving.
After being spared a ban, Goldsmith was speeded a further seven times.
Goldsmith broke speed limits in his hybrid electric Volkswagen Golf on numerous roads in London between April and November 2023.
He was also caught speeding on two motorways, most recently in December, Westminster Magistrates’ Court heard.
District Judge Daniel Sternberg sentenced Goldsmith to fines totaling £5,500 for the last seven offences, plus a victim surcharge of £2,000 and costs of £700.
He banned Goldsmith from driving for the next twelve months.
A lawyer for the colleague said he “accepts the blame and is anxious to ensure he is not brought back to court.”
Benjamin Waidhofer said on behalf of Goldsmith: “This is not someone who is clearly defying the usual speed limits. He has pleaded guilty to each offence.
“He undoubtedly recognized the inappropriateness of his behavior. He has expressed not only his acceptance and guilt, but also his regret and fear of appearing in court again.”
The court heard he was first caught traveling in VW Golfing at 30mph in a 20mph zone in Cheyne Walk, Chelsea, on April 27 last year.
A month later, on May 31, the peer was clocked at 75 km/h in a 60 km/h zone in Twickenham, west London, and was caught again on the A402 in Paddington on July 18.
On August 3, Goldsmith exceeded the 60 km/h limit on the same stretch of road in Twickenham by driving 47 km/h, and on September 30 he was caught driving 75 mph with a temporary 80 km/h limit on the M4.
Meanwhile, he was caught doing 74km/h in a 60km/h zone in Feltham on November 10.
And his latest offense was for speeding 60mph in a 50mph zone on the M25 on December 14.
Judge Sternberg said his speeding endangers offenders “and all other road users,” noting that the illegal practice “generates more harmful emissions.”
Goldsmith was banned from driving in 2014 after being caught speeding three times in three months.
Lord Goldsmith ran unsuccessfully for mayor of London in 2016 when he was defeated by Sadiq Khan.
He was a minister in Boris Johnson’s government.