Driving ban for speeding comedian

Comedian Hancock was given the ban under the totting-up rules

Comedian Nick Hancock has been banned from driving for six months after being caught speeding at nearly 100mph during a trip to Scotland.

He was disqualified under totting-up rules after Perth District Court heard it was his fourth breach of the law in three years.

Police clocked the star's Volkswagen Touareg at 95mph on the M90 between Perth and Edinburgh on 17 August.

In addition to the ban, the comedian, who was not in court, was fined £400.

The 46-year-old, who is best known for hosting BBC quiz They Think It's All Over, was disqualified for the mandatory six-month period because he already had nine points on his licence.

His solicitor, Michael Stephenson, had suggested that the court restrict any ban to seven days to avoid affecting his television work.

'Accept the penalty'

However, Justice of the Peace Barbara Briggs-Constable said that as the star had nine live points on his licence, and he had been clocked at 95mph in a 70mph zone, she was imposing four penalty points.

"That brings him to a total of 13 points, so he is liable for disqualification under totting-up procedures," she said.

"The letter from his solicitor says he is not offering any grounds of exceptional hardship and will accept the penalty of disqualification.

"I don't have a note of his income but I would suggest it would be substantial and I will impose a fine of £400."

Hancock, of Woore, has previously been convicted of speeding in the Sheffield area in November 2005 and January 2006 and in Stoke-on-Trent in May this year.