Tweet
£4,000-a-week football legend John Barnes escapes driving ban after claiming 'exceptional hardship'
By Jaya Narain
Last updated at 1:37 PM on 30th October 2008
Penalty: John Barnes was fined but avoided a ban despite admitting driving without insurance
Former England football star John Barnes has sparked fury after he escaped a ban for driving without insurance by claiming he was too poor to employ a driver.
Barnes - who raked in millions of pounds during a 20 year career as a top football player - told magistrates a ban would cause him 'exceptional hardship.' even though he still earns thousands of pounds a week.
The 44-year-old, who played for Watford, Liverpool and Newcastle, had faced a lengthy ban from the roads after he was caught driving his £60,000 BMW X5 sports car on the M6 motorway without insurance.
But Barnes complained that a driving ban would mean he would be unable to carry out his new job as manager of the Jamaican national team because he could not be expected to rely on public transport to watch football matches.
The former footballer also claimed he was too hard up to hire a driver because his £4,000 a week wages 'varied drastically.'
He also said he had to put money aside to support not only his wife Andrea and their two children Isabella and Tia but also had to fund his sons Jamie and Jordan and daughters Jemma and Jasmin by his former wife Suzy.
Magistrates in Northwhich, Cheshire agreed to spare him a ban after 'taking into consideration his work family and charity commitments.'
But road safety campaigners have condemned the leniency of the court for showing favouritism to the former football star.
Jane Whitham, of Brake, said: 'No one is above the insurance system and they shouldn't be above the law which is there to protect road users.
'It's ridiculous for the criminal justice system to let someone off a driving ban because they can't afford a chauffeur - what's wrong with the bus?'
John with Nicole Cutler on Strictly Come Dancing in 2007
The court heard that Barnes was caught driving without insurance on the M6 at Thelwall in June.
He already had nine points on his licence and a six-point penalty for having no insurance would have taken him over the 12-point instant ban limit.
But Barnes, who lives in Neston, Wirral, is due to take over as Jamaica coach in November and said losing his licence would make his new job virtually impossible.
He told the court: 'I wouldn't expect them to fire me from the job, but I would have difficulties carrying it out.
'I have to go and see players play at their clubs to select them. Three quarters of the players play in this country, places like Stoke, Bradford and London, they're all over the country.
John Barnes celebrates scoring for Watford against Arsenal in the FA Cup in 1987
'I have to go to at least two matches a week so to get to, say, Norwich on a Wednesday night using public transport would probably be very difficult and getting back would be impossible.'
He said employing a driver was not a feasible option as his wage, workload and travelling requirements vary drastically.
Defending himself, Barnes explained how the lack of insurance for his BMW X5 resulted from a misunderstanding with his wife, who is a part-time law student.
He said: 'I'd been in the Caribbean for two months when my insurance ran out and I thought my wife had sorted it out. I just assumed she'd done it.
'But I've not brought in representation as I plead guilty, I have no other excuse, but I should have checked with my wife.'
Barnes who was awarded an MBE for his services to football helped his teams win the First Division twice, the FA Cup twice, and played for the England 79 times - then a record for a black player. He was once voted Footballer of the Year.
He is currently acting as a part-time scout in the Caribbean for Sunderland and is also employed as a broadcaster with television Channel Five in the UK.
He is also a pundit on ITV, has his own weekly football discussion show on Liverpool FC TV and works as an ambassador for Save the Children.
Barnes competed in the fifth BBC series of Strictly Come Dancing which started in October 2007 and finished in seventh place.
Magistrates said they took into consideration his work, family and charity commitments and accepted that a ban would cause him exceptional hardship.
He was fined £2,000 and ordered to pay £35 costs within 56 days. Although six points were imposed on his licence the ban was suspended.
The maximum penalty for driving without insurance is a £5000 fine and between 6-8 penalty points though a ban is discretionary.
The Government estimates there are up to two million uninsured drivers on the road today - one motorist in 15.
Insurers say it is the law-abiding drivers that foot the cost of accidents involving uninsured vehicles, paying around £30 a year extra on their annual vehicle insurance.
DM.has("readerComments");DM.has("debate"); View all Add your comments Comments (14)
Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below
Plainly, the Magistrates in Northwich are football loving Morons and dangerous ones at that.
- Mike Randall, Worcester England, 30/10/2008 14:12
"too poor on £4k a week" my heart bleeds for him, so in future when stopped just say you have numerous family to support and all the charity work you do, then wait while the judge gives you a hefty fine and takes your licence from you.
Get a life how would you feel Mr Barnes if one of your vast familly were knocked and killed by an uninsured driver?
- barbara lownds, hanworth middlesex, 30/10/2008 14:10
Exceptional Hardship!!! One rule for the likes of him and another for the rest. Having no insurance is a crime and should be treated as such regardless of who he is. What if he had had an accident and/or killed some innocent person? Oh, if in doubt, blame the wife - yawn. The rest of us mere mortals have to budget for our car insurance or not drive.
- Jinny, Kent, UK, 30/10/2008 14:04
By Jaya Narain
Last updated at 1:37 PM on 30th October 2008
Penalty: John Barnes was fined but avoided a ban despite admitting driving without insurance
Former England football star John Barnes has sparked fury after he escaped a ban for driving without insurance by claiming he was too poor to employ a driver.
Barnes - who raked in millions of pounds during a 20 year career as a top football player - told magistrates a ban would cause him 'exceptional hardship.' even though he still earns thousands of pounds a week.
The 44-year-old, who played for Watford, Liverpool and Newcastle, had faced a lengthy ban from the roads after he was caught driving his £60,000 BMW X5 sports car on the M6 motorway without insurance.
But Barnes complained that a driving ban would mean he would be unable to carry out his new job as manager of the Jamaican national team because he could not be expected to rely on public transport to watch football matches.
The former footballer also claimed he was too hard up to hire a driver because his £4,000 a week wages 'varied drastically.'
He also said he had to put money aside to support not only his wife Andrea and their two children Isabella and Tia but also had to fund his sons Jamie and Jordan and daughters Jemma and Jasmin by his former wife Suzy.
Magistrates in Northwhich, Cheshire agreed to spare him a ban after 'taking into consideration his work family and charity commitments.'
But road safety campaigners have condemned the leniency of the court for showing favouritism to the former football star.
Jane Whitham, of Brake, said: 'No one is above the insurance system and they shouldn't be above the law which is there to protect road users.
'It's ridiculous for the criminal justice system to let someone off a driving ban because they can't afford a chauffeur - what's wrong with the bus?'
John with Nicole Cutler on Strictly Come Dancing in 2007 The court heard that Barnes was caught driving without insurance on the M6 at Thelwall in June.
He already had nine points on his licence and a six-point penalty for having no insurance would have taken him over the 12-point instant ban limit.
But Barnes, who lives in Neston, Wirral, is due to take over as Jamaica coach in November and said losing his licence would make his new job virtually impossible.
He told the court: 'I wouldn't expect them to fire me from the job, but I would have difficulties carrying it out.
'I have to go and see players play at their clubs to select them. Three quarters of the players play in this country, places like Stoke, Bradford and London, they're all over the country.
John Barnes celebrates scoring for Watford against Arsenal in the FA Cup in 1987
'I have to go to at least two matches a week so to get to, say, Norwich on a Wednesday night using public transport would probably be very difficult and getting back would be impossible.'
He said employing a driver was not a feasible option as his wage, workload and travelling requirements vary drastically.
Defending himself, Barnes explained how the lack of insurance for his BMW X5 resulted from a misunderstanding with his wife, who is a part-time law student.
He said: 'I'd been in the Caribbean for two months when my insurance ran out and I thought my wife had sorted it out. I just assumed she'd done it.
'But I've not brought in representation as I plead guilty, I have no other excuse, but I should have checked with my wife.'
Barnes who was awarded an MBE for his services to football helped his teams win the First Division twice, the FA Cup twice, and played for the England 79 times - then a record for a black player. He was once voted Footballer of the Year.
He is currently acting as a part-time scout in the Caribbean for Sunderland and is also employed as a broadcaster with television Channel Five in the UK.
He is also a pundit on ITV, has his own weekly football discussion show on Liverpool FC TV and works as an ambassador for Save the Children.
Barnes competed in the fifth BBC series of Strictly Come Dancing which started in October 2007 and finished in seventh place.
Magistrates said they took into consideration his work, family and charity commitments and accepted that a ban would cause him exceptional hardship.
He was fined £2,000 and ordered to pay £35 costs within 56 days. Although six points were imposed on his licence the ban was suspended.
The maximum penalty for driving without insurance is a £5000 fine and between 6-8 penalty points though a ban is discretionary.
The Government estimates there are up to two million uninsured drivers on the road today - one motorist in 15.
Insurers say it is the law-abiding drivers that foot the cost of accidents involving uninsured vehicles, paying around £30 a year extra on their annual vehicle insurance.
DM.has("readerComments");DM.has("debate"); View all Add your comments Comments (14)
Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below
Plainly, the Magistrates in Northwich are football loving Morons and dangerous ones at that.
- Mike Randall, Worcester England, 30/10/2008 14:12
"too poor on £4k a week" my heart bleeds for him, so in future when stopped just say you have numerous family to support and all the charity work you do, then wait while the judge gives you a hefty fine and takes your licence from you.
Get a life how would you feel Mr Barnes if one of your vast familly were knocked and killed by an uninsured driver?
- barbara lownds, hanworth middlesex, 30/10/2008 14:10
Exceptional Hardship!!! One rule for the likes of him and another for the rest. Having no insurance is a crime and should be treated as such regardless of who he is. What if he had had an accident and/or killed some innocent person? Oh, if in doubt, blame the wife - yawn. The rest of us mere mortals have to budget for our car insurance or not drive.
- Jinny, Kent, UK, 30/10/2008 14:04
Paul Marin -19 is one thing, 20 is a whole other matter. It gets even worse if they win the UCL. *groan*. 
05/18/2011.MU fans naah cough, but all a unuh a vomit?-Lazie 1/11/2015
big deal.
Comment