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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Cole banned after 104mph drive | Cole banned after 104mph drive |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Chelsea's Ashley Cole has been banned from driving for four months after speeding at 104mph in a 50mph zone. | Chelsea's Ashley Cole has been banned from driving for four months after speeding at 104mph in a 50mph zone. |
| The player, from Godalming, Surrey, was caught speeding in his Lamborghini on the A3 in Kingston, south-west London, just after midday on 17 November 2008. | The player, from Godalming, Surrey, was caught speeding in his Lamborghini on the A3 in Kingston, south-west London, just after midday on 17 November 2008. |
| Cole, who claimed he was being chased by paparazzi, was also fined £1,000 after being found guilty on 4 January. | Cole, who claimed he was being chased by paparazzi, was also fined £1,000 after being found guilty on 4 January. |
| Escaping the paparazzi cannot be a defence for speeding, the prosecution told Kingston Magistrates' Court. | |
| The court heard that when stopped, Cole told police he was aware it was a 50mph zone and thought he was driving at 80mph but complained about a photographer following him. | The court heard that when stopped, Cole told police he was aware it was a 50mph zone and thought he was driving at 80mph but complained about a photographer following him. |
| Cole's lawyer Katherine Hodson had argued the player had no case to answer and claimed the speed gun might not have been operating properly. | Cole's lawyer Katherine Hodson had argued the player had no case to answer and claimed the speed gun might not have been operating properly. |
| Chairwoman of the magistrates Patricia Baskerville said: "We have taken into account Mr Cole's clean licence - however this was an incident of excessive speed, over twice the speed limit on the road and these were exceptional circumstances which we need to mark." | Chairwoman of the magistrates Patricia Baskerville said: "We have taken into account Mr Cole's clean licence - however this was an incident of excessive speed, over twice the speed limit on the road and these were exceptional circumstances which we need to mark." |
| Cole, who was not in court, was warned he faces prison if caught driving while banned. | Cole, who was not in court, was warned he faces prison if caught driving while banned. |
| Income 'reflected' | Income 'reflected' |
| Ms Hodson said he was "regrettably" unable to attend as he was travelling in preparation for a game on Saturday. | Ms Hodson said he was "regrettably" unable to attend as he was travelling in preparation for a game on Saturday. |
| Her attempt to get sentencing adjourned was rejected. | Her attempt to get sentencing adjourned was rejected. |
| A £15 victim surcharge and £300 costs were added by the panel to "reflect his income". | A £15 victim surcharge and £300 costs were added by the panel to "reflect his income". |
| A request that Cole be allowed 21 days to pay was greeted with laughter by magistrates, who granted it nonetheless. | A request that Cole be allowed 21 days to pay was greeted with laughter by magistrates, who granted it nonetheless. |
| Cole is thought to earn a six-figure weekly salary. | Cole is thought to earn a six-figure weekly salary. |
| The player has immediately launched an appeal against the ban, which will be heard later. | The player has immediately launched an appeal against the ban, which will be heard later. |