This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/wales/6099962.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Driving ban for speeding Henson | Driving ban for speeding Henson |
| (3 days later) | |
| Wales rugby star Gavin Henson has been banned from driving for a month after he was caught driving at 110mph (177kph) on the M4 motorway. | Wales rugby star Gavin Henson has been banned from driving for a month after he was caught driving at 110mph (177kph) on the M4 motorway. |
| Henson was pulled over by police who followed his Mercedes on 6 September as he headed to London from south Wales. | Henson was pulled over by police who followed his Mercedes on 6 September as he headed to London from south Wales. |
| Magistrates in Chippenham, Wiltshire, gave him a reduced one-month ban after hearing his charity work with children would suffer if he was unable to drive. | Magistrates in Chippenham, Wiltshire, gave him a reduced one-month ban after hearing his charity work with children would suffer if he was unable to drive. |
| Henson, who admitted speeding, was also fined £1,850 and charged £35 costs. | Henson, who admitted speeding, was also fined £1,850 and charged £35 costs. |
| Magistrates were told the Wales and Ospreys utility back was seen speeding by police carrying out spot checks on the M4 at 1320 BST on 6 September. | Magistrates were told the Wales and Ospreys utility back was seen speeding by police carrying out spot checks on the M4 at 1320 BST on 6 September. |
| Henson spoke only to confirm his name and address in Cardiff, where he lives with singer Charlotte Church. | Henson spoke only to confirm his name and address in Cardiff, where he lives with singer Charlotte Church. |
| Mr Henson will cope with any disqualification but it is the children who will miss out because of his charitable commitments Defence solicitor Jim Bennett | Mr Henson will cope with any disqualification but it is the children who will miss out because of his charitable commitments Defence solicitor Jim Bennett |
| Officers followed his sports car for more than a mile eastbound during which his speed fluctuated between 100mph (161kph) and 110mph (177kph). | Officers followed his sports car for more than a mile eastbound during which his speed fluctuated between 100mph (161kph) and 110mph (177kph). |
| The court heard that Henson, 24, told officers: ''I am very sorry. I am very disappointed in myself.'' | The court heard that Henson, 24, told officers: ''I am very sorry. I am very disappointed in myself.'' |
| He admitted a speeding offence but his solicitor argued in court that a driving ban would mean the British Lion's charity work would suffer. | He admitted a speeding offence but his solicitor argued in court that a driving ban would mean the British Lion's charity work would suffer. |
| His solicitor, Jim Bennett, handed a list of Henson's charitable appointments to the magistrates. | His solicitor, Jim Bennett, handed a list of Henson's charitable appointments to the magistrates. |
| 'Recognisable face' | 'Recognisable face' |
| Mr Bennett told them: ''You may recognise Mr Henson as a rugby player for Ospreys and for Wales. | Mr Bennett told them: ''You may recognise Mr Henson as a rugby player for Ospreys and for Wales. |
| ''He has a recognisable face and puts it to good use and this letter confirms it. The letter contains his charitable appointment diary. | ''He has a recognisable face and puts it to good use and this letter confirms it. The letter contains his charitable appointment diary. |
| ''Mr Henson will cope with any disqualification but it is the children who will miss out because of his charitable commitments.'' | ''Mr Henson will cope with any disqualification but it is the children who will miss out because of his charitable commitments.'' |
| Chairwoman of the bench, Jeanette Hawker, said they had taken into account his busy charity schedule and early guilty plea when deciding their sentence. | Chairwoman of the bench, Jeanette Hawker, said they had taken into account his busy charity schedule and early guilty plea when deciding their sentence. |
| She said: ''We have listened to your defence solicitor and we have read this letter and we have taken into account your guilty plea and reduced some of the disqualification accordingly. | She said: ''We have listened to your defence solicitor and we have read this letter and we have taken into account your guilty plea and reduced some of the disqualification accordingly. |
| ''You are going to be disqualified for 28 days from today and you must not drive any motor vehicle. | ''You are going to be disqualified for 28 days from today and you must not drive any motor vehicle. |
| ''Please don't have the keys of a car in your pocket or sit in the drivers seat as that could be construed as breaking the order.'' | ''Please don't have the keys of a car in your pocket or sit in the drivers seat as that could be construed as breaking the order.'' |
| Henson is waiting to find out if he will be selected for Wales' upcoming autumn internationals which include games against New Zealand and Australia. | Henson is waiting to find out if he will be selected for Wales' upcoming autumn internationals which include games against New Zealand and Australia. |