Viscount Hanworth faces driving ban after Islington speeding conviction
David Pollock, a former Labour peer, will argue special reasons to avoid disqualification at an October hearing.
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An 80-year-old peer who served in the House of Lords until April will argue next month that he should not lose his driving licence after being caught speeding in Islington. David Stephen Geoffrey Pollock, the 3rd Viscount Hanworth, was recorded travelling at 27.6mph in a 20mph zone on Junction Road near Wyndham Crescent on 4 February.
Pollock pleaded guilty to exceeding the speed limit at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 25 July. The court heard he already has nine penalty points on his licence. District Judge Hina Rai noted that any additional points would result in disqualification under the totting-up procedure.
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Nine points and a special reasons hearing
The magistrates’ court will reconvene on 7 October to consider whether Pollock has grounds to avoid a ban. Such hearings examine exceptional circumstances that might justify not imposing penalty points or disqualification. It is unclear what arguments Pollock’s legal team will present.
Pollock attended the July hearing in person, wearing a blue suit, shirt and tie. He sat outside the dock throughout the proceedings. His address was given as Gladsmuir Road in Islington.
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Former Labour peer
Pollock was a hereditary peer in the House of Lords, representing the Labour Party until April. Hereditary peers are members who inherit their titles and seats. The House of Lords Act 1999 reduced their number, though 92 remain. Pollock’s departure from the Lords was not linked to the speeding offence.
The speeding incident was detected by a fixed camera at around 12:24pm on 4 February. No other vehicles or pedestrians were reported to be involved. The 20mph limit on Junction Road was introduced by Islington Council in 2016 as part of a borough-wide rollout of lower speed limits on residential streets.
What happens next
Westminster Magistrates’ Court will hold the special reasons hearing on 7 October. If the court rejects Pollock’s arguments, he will face an automatic disqualification from driving. The length of any ban would be determined by the magistrates, typically ranging from six to twelve months for a first disqualification under the totting-up rules.
Residents in Islington can check the outcome of the hearing through the court’s public listings. The case reference number is not publicly available. Islington Council has not commented on the specific incident but reiterated its commitment to enforcing 20mph limits across the borough.
Questions this report answers
+What speed was Viscount Hanworth caught driving?
David Pollock was recorded at 27.6mph in a 20mph zone on Junction Road, Islington, on 4 February. The offence carries a penalty of three points and a fine, which could lead to disqualification as he already has nine points on his licence.
+When is the next court hearing?
Pollock will return to Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 7 October for a special reasons hearing. The court will decide whether he should avoid a driving ban despite accumulating enough points for disqualification.
+How many points does Viscount Hanworth have on his licence?
Pollock currently has nine penalty points on his driving licence. Under UK law, twelve points within three years trigger an automatic disqualification unless the court accepts special reasons to reduce or waive the penalty.
+What happens if the court rejects his special reasons?
If Westminster Magistrates’ Court rejects Pollock’s arguments on 7 October, he will face an automatic driving ban. The length of the ban is typically six to twelve months for a first disqualification under the totting-up procedure.
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