Security minister Tom Tugendhat has been banned from driving for six months after he was caught utilizing his cellphone behind the wheel.
The Conservative MP for Tonbridge and Malling claimed he was holding however “not using” his cell.
The 49-year-old was stopped by police in his Skoda 4×4 in Wandsworth on 4 April.
Mr Tugendhat appeared for a sentencing listening to at Westminster Magistrates’ Court at present.
Geraldine Dickinson, prosecuting, instructed the courtroom that he was pulled over by police on Wandsworth High Street after an officer seen that his cellphone was in his left hand.
“He noticed that the driver was using a handheld phone,” she stated.
“The machine was being held within the driver’s left hand.
“He saw this in broad daylight for around 20 seconds.”
She stated the officer confirmed Mr Tugendhat was not utilizing the cellphone to name the emergency companies.
“It was confirmed that they were using maps,” she stated.
Paul Morris, defending, stated his consumer accepted he would obtain a driving ban.
He didn’t supply any mitigation of “exceptional hardship” that may be attributable to Mr Tugendhat being banned from driving.
‘I’d count on you to set a superb instance for the remainder of us’
Judge Jack McGarva stated utilizing a cell phone is a distraction.
“Using a mobile phone in any way is a distraction,” he stated.
“Without any doubt it impairs people’s ability to drive.
“I’d count on you to set a superb instance for the remainder of us.”
Mr Tugendhat obtained six penalty factors on his driver’s licence for the offence, on prime of the six he already had for 2 earlier driving offences – resulting in him being banned for six months.
As nicely because the driving ban, he obtained a £1,000 high-quality and was ordered to pay a surcharge of £100 and prices of £110.
Source: information.sky.com”