Former Top Gear presenter Richard Hammond was fined £999 and issued seven licence penalty points after being caught speeding twice within three weeks in high-performance luxury vehicles, according to UK media reports. The 56-year-old television personality admitted to two speeding charges through his solicitor at a recent court hearing, while police officially withdrew two separate charges regarding failures to identify the driver.
Speeding Violations Involve Porsche and Bentley Models
According to court documents cited by the BBC, the first driving offense occurred on December 2. Hammond was caught driving his Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo at 68mph in a 50mph zone. Just three weeks later on December 22, he was clocked traveling at 82mph in a 70mph zone behind the wheel of his Bentley Continental GT.
Did you know? Richard Hammond co-hosted the BBC’s flagship motoring show Top Gear alongside Jeremy Clarkson and James May from 2002 until 2015.
Administrative Delays Tied to Multiple Properties
It took weeks for West Mercia Police to successfully deliver the speeding tickets and court summons. Initial notices sent to a Grade II listed Herefordshire castle that Hammond purchased in 2012, as well as a £1m (NZ$2.3 million) farm estate near Hereford, were returned marked as “addressee gone away,” court documents revealed.
Investigators eventually tracked Hammond to a £2m (NZ$4.6 million) home near Abergavenny in Wales. Court proceedings noted that more than 30 vehicles were currently registered to that Welsh property.
Previous Driving Offenses on Record
This incident is not Hammond’s first brush with international traffic authorities. Back in 2013, while making an episode of the BBC’s Top Gear, Hammond and co-host Jeremy Clarkson received a three-month driving ban in France after local police caught them speeding.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was Richard Hammond’s total fine for the speeding charges?
Richard Hammond was ordered to pay a total fine of £999 after pleading guilty to two speeding offenses.
How many licence points did he receive?
The court issued seven penalty points to Hammond’s driver’s licence during the hearing.
Which cars was he driving when caught?
Police clocked Hammond driving a Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo and a Bentley Continental GT.
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