Former Coventry City chairman Bryan Richardson caught speeding in BMW

Bryan Richardson, of Hanley Road, Malvern, had totted up 12 points on his licence and knew he was facing a ban. 

The court heard the 78-year-old committed his latest speeding offence by speeding in his BMW on Defford Road, Pershore, on March 19 last year. 

Edward Gaynor-Smith, defending, said one of the speeding offences that had contributed took place in 2020 when Richardson was suffering a medical emergency.

COURT: Paul Richardson outside Worcester Magistrates Court (Image: Sam Greenway/Newsquest)

Mr Gaynor-Smith said the latest offence took place on a section of the road that opened up. 

"It is a road Mr Richardson does not know," the solicitor said. 

"He assumed he was in a 60mph zone - he was travelling at 42mph [the speed limit was 30mph]."

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Mr Gaynor-Smith said Richardson has had the case "hanging over him" for nearly a year. 

The solicitor argued Richardson should not be disqualified from driving because of exceptional hardship. 

He told the court Richardson was the legal guardian to his grandson and drove him around, including to sports events the youngster was playing in.

COURT: Worcester Crown Court

"Without a driving licence he would find it extremely difficult," Mr Gaynor-Smith said. 

After 15 minutes of deliberations magistrates returned to the courtroom and chairman of the magistrates bench, Ian Latimer, announced they would be banning Richardson. 

The chairman said they had found hardship but not "exceptional hardship" adding there was no real difficulty that could not be overcome through the use of public transport. 

Richardson was banned from driving for six months.

He was also fined £384 and ordered to pay costs of £90 and £38 victim surcharge. 

SPEEDING: Richardson was caught speeding in a BMW

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Richardson's offer to pay the total, £512, in full within 28 days was accepted by the magistrates. 

Richardson, who previously lived in the Cotswolds before moving to Malvern, played cricket for Warwickshire for five seasons in the 1960s, making two centuries. 

Richardson was also chairman of Coventry City FC from 1993 until 2002 and it was his vision to move the club to a new stadium. 

The club relocated in 2005 to Coventry Building Society Arena, formerly known as the Ricoh Arena - but fans became unhappy as the move suffered a number of issues over the years.

The case was heard at Worcester Magistrates Court on Friday (February 17).