Legendary rocker Ian Brown dodges driving ban – so he can take his elderly mum shopping
The Stone Roses singer persuaded magistrates a ban would be an 'inconvenience' as parents relied on his help
STONE Roses star Ian Brown escaped a driving ban because he said he needed to go shopping for his elderly parents.
The 53-year-old Fools Gold singer persuaded magistrates a ban would be an "inconvenience".
He also reckoned he needed his motor to go to band rehearsals.
Brown faced disqualification under the totting up procedure after being caught doing 37mph in a 30mph zone in his Lexus.
But his claim it would stop him rehearsing and helping parents George, 81, and Jean, 79, hit a chord in court.
Brown’s lawyer Paul Reddy told magistrates the star’s parents, who live eight miles away from his home in Lymm, Cheshire, relied on their son.
Mr Reddy said: “They are both elderly and immobile.
“It falls to Mr Brown to look after them.
“He spends the days doing errands, doing their shopping.”
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He added: “He is rehearsing in the middle of nowhere and is one of four who need to be there.
“At the very least it would inconvenience these people.”
Stockport JPs gave Brown three points, bringing him to 12, but did not ban him after agreeing the multi-millionaire might suffer “exceptional hardship”.
Brown smiled when told he must pay a £200 fine and £150 following his guilty plea.
Last night road safety campaigners rapped the sentence.
Brake spokesman Jack Kushner said: “It makes a mockery of the system if drivers who rack up 12 points aren’t banned.”
The Stone Roses split in 1996 but reformed in 2011.