British grime artist Stormzy has been handed a nine-month driving ban after being caught using a mobile phone while driving his Rolls-Royce Wraith in West London.
The 31-year-old rapper, born Michael Ebenazer Owuo Junior, admitted to the offence in a written guilty plea. The incident occurred on Addison Road, West Kensington, in March last year, according to the BBC.
Sky News reported that District Judge Andrew Sweet, presiding at Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court, described Stormzy’s actions as “dangerous and irresponsible” and noted his poor driving record.
The judge added six penalty points to Stormzy’s licence, leading to an automatic disqualification, and fined him £2,010.
“Get rid of your tints and get off your phone,” the off-duty officer reportedly told Stormzy after knocking on his tinted passenger window, according to accounts shared in court, says The Guardian.
The grime star had initially denied the charge but later wrote to the court to change his plea.
This incident follows a pattern of driving infractions for the award-winning artist.
Prosecutor Alice Holloway revealed that in October 2023, Stormzy was stopped while driving a Lamborghini Urus with front windows illegally tinted to only 4 per cent light transmission, far below the legal requirement of 70 per cent.
At the time, Holloway stated, the vehicle’s condition posed a risk to “vulnerable road users.”
Despite prior warnings, Stormzy was caught driving the Lamborghini on Coombe Lane, Kingston upon Thames, before finally removing the illegal tints.
Stormzy’s lawyer, Peter Csemiczky, emphasised his client’s acceptance of responsibility and willingness to comply with the law.
“He apologises and acknowledges his mistakes,” Csemiczky said, adding that the offending tints have now been removed.
Stormzy, a prominent figure in the grime music scene, has made waves not only for his chart-topping tracks but also for his profound cultural influence.
Sky News highlighted his historic achievement as the first Black British solo artist to headline Glastonbury in 2019.
However, his recent legal issues serve as a reminder that repeated traffic violations carry consequences, regardless of fame or status. Notably, the rapper did not attend the court hearing for his case.
Grime, an electronic dance music genre originating in London in the early 2000s, evolved from UK garage. The term “grime” was initially coined by journalists to describe the music’s raw, sub-bass-heavy sound, which eventually solidified its identity as a genre.