security minister Tom Tugendhat has been banned from driving for six months after being caught with his mobile phone in his hand while at the wheel.
The Conservative MP for Tonbridge and Malling, was stopped by police in his Skoda 4×4 in Wandsworth on April 14.
Mr Tugendhat, who lives in Clapham, south-west London, appeared for a sentencing hearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Thursday wearing a blue tie and a navy suit.
Geraldine Dickinson, prosecuting, told the court that he was pulled over by police on Wandsworth High Street after an officer noticed that his phone was in his left hand.
“He noticed that the driver was using a handheld phone,” she said.
“The device was being held in the driver’s left hand.
“He saw this in broad daylight for around 20 seconds.”
She said the officer confirmed that Mr. Tugendhat was not using the phone to call the emergency services.
“It was confirmed that they were using maps,” she said.
Paul Morris, defending, said that his client accepted that he would receive a driving ban.
He did not offer any mitigation of “exceptional hardship” that would be caused by Mr. Tugendhat being banned from driving.
Judge Jack McGarva said that using a mobile phone is a distraction.
I would expect you to set a good example for the rest of us
“Using a mobile phone in any way is a distraction,” he said.
“Without any doubt it impairs people’s ability to drive.
“I would expect you to set a good example for the rest of us.”
Mr. Tugendhat received six penalty points on his driver’s license for the offense, added to the six he already had for two previous driving offenses – leading to him being banned for six months.
As well as the driving ban, the security minister received a £1,000 fine.
He was also ordered to pay a surcharge of £100 and costs of £110.
Mr Tugendhat, who previously stood for leader of the Conservative Party, admitted the offense earlier this month, but claimed he was holding his phone not using it.
In a written guilty plea to Bromley Magistrates’ Court, which heard the case in private under the single justice procedure, the politician said: “I was holding my phone – not using it.
“After the incident I took a course to refresh and correct my driving.
“I have included the result of the course. Please accept the course report.
“I accept my responsibility and recognize my culpability.”
The Metropolitan Police sent Mr. Tugendhat a conditional offer of a fixed penalty notice in April, and Mr. Tugendhat agreed to pay the fine and surrender his driving license, according to court papers.
He also attended an advanced driving course in May, where he was assessed as low risk.
But the offense was sent to court for prosecution due to the six penalty points already on his driving record.
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