Former Glastonbury headliner Stormzy has been banned from driving for nine months after an undercover police officer caught him using his phone behind the wheel of a Rolls-Royce in west London. The rapper, named Michael Ebenazer Owuo Junior, 31, pleaded guilty via a letter to driving the Rolls-Royce Wraith while using his device on Addison Road, west Kensington, shortly after 3.30pm on March 7, 2024.
District judge Andrew Sweet said Stormzy’s driving record was “not good” and damned his actions as “dangerous and irresponsible.” The famous rapper, who was not present at court, was handed a nine-month ban, a £2,010 fine and six more points on his license.
Famous grime artist Stormzy has enjoyed a wildly successful career. He has headlined Glastonbury and was named best Grime Act at the 2014 and 2015 MOBO Awards.
He pleaded guilty via a letter to driving the Rolls-Royce Wraith while using his device
(Image: Aaron Chown/PA Wire)
The undercover cop had knocked on Stormzy’s “tinted” passenger window and said “get rid of your tints and get off your phone”, Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court heard on Thursday.
This is not the first time that Stormzy has experience issues with using tinted windows. Owuo had previously admitted to driving a Lamborghini Urus with front windows illegally tinted to only 4% light transmission – a violation of the 70% requirement.
The vehicle’s use was dangerous and put “vulnerable road users at risk”, prosecutor Alice Holloway said on Thursday. Owuo was stopped by officers on Coombe Lane, Kingston upon Thames, at about 12.45pm on October 17 2023, having previously been warned about the windows. Before Thursday’s hearing he had six points on his licence.
Peter Csemiczky, defending, said Owuo accepts responsibility and apologises. He added that the rapper has removed the tints.
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