British grime star Stormzy, born Michael Ebenazer Owuo Jr., has been handed a nine-month driving ban after admitting to using a mobile phone while driving his Rolls-Royce Wraith. The incident occurred in March 2023 on Addison Road, West Kensington, according to BBC and Sky News reports.
The 31-year-old rapper pleaded guilty to the offence through a written letter submitted to Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court. District Judge Andrew Sweet criticised Stormzy’s actions, labelling them as “dangerous and irresponsible.” The judge noted the musician’s driving record was already “not good.”
In addition to the ban, six points were added to Stormzy’s licence, triggering the automatic disqualification, and he was fined £2,010.
According to court reports, an off-duty officer caught Stormzy in the act, knocking on his tinted passenger window and advising him to “get rid of your tints and get off your phone.” Initially, the artist denied the charge but later changed his plea to guilty.
The incident is the latest in a series of driving infractions for the award-winning artist. Prosecutor Alice Holloway highlighted another violation in October 2023, where Stormzy was stopped while driving a Lamborghini Urus with illegally tinted front windows that allowed just 4% light transmission—far below the UK’s legal minimum of 70%. At the time, the tints were deemed a hazard to vulnerable road users.
Despite warnings, Stormzy continued driving the Lamborghini with the illegal tints on Coombe Lane, Kingston upon Thames, before eventually removing them.
Stormzy’s lawyer, Peter Csemiczky, addressed the court, saying his client accepted responsibility for his actions and apologised for his mistakes. “He acknowledges his errors and has taken corrective measures, including removing the offending tints,” Csemiczky stated.
The rapper, known for his significant cultural impact and being the first Black British solo artist to headline Glastonbury in 2019, did not attend the hearing.
This legal setback serves as a reminder that even high-profile individuals are not exempt from the consequences of repeated traffic violations.
Grime, the genre that propelled Stormzy to fame, originated in London in the early 2000s and is known for its sub-bass-heavy sound, which journalists initially described as “grimy,” later giving rise to the name “grime.”
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