BBC weatherman Des Coleman walked out of a Nottingham courtroom in tears in the middle of his case for driving without insurance yesterday.
Coleman, who presents the weather for BBC East Midlands Today, appeared at the city’s magistrates’ court after he was stopped by police in Upper Parliament Street on November 13 last year.
He admitted driving without insurance and was facing a minimum ban of six months due to the number of points already on his licence.
But he claimed a six-month ban would cause him excessive hardship and had the disqualification cut to three months.
He said he was unaware his insurance had expired on November 6 and had not had a reminder from his insurance company.
“I’m absolutely gutted,” he told the court. “In a sense I’m glad they stopped me because otherwise I could have been driving without insurance for a long time.”
He added that he was “ashamed” that his insurance had expired.
The 44-year-old was also reprimanded by chairman of the magistrates Graham Roseblade for using “unacceptable” language in court.
He later cried and walked out of the courtroom while character references were being read out.
The court was told he had already been given a six-week ban earlier this week for speeding and travelled around 45,000 to 50,000 miles a year to do acting and charity work.
He said he would not be able to use public transport for his 5am shift at the BBC during his ban.
Tim Lumb, in mitigation, said a long disqualification would also mean Coleman, of Swadlincote, would lose his acting and lecturing jobs, which make him around £20,000 to £25,000 a year.
The presenter, who earns £33,000 a year at the BBC, was the “sole breadwinner” for his family and had four children, a 20-year-old, a 17-year-old with cerebral palsy, an 11-year-old and a four-year-old, the court heard.
His driving ban will run concurrently with the six-week disqualification already in force. He was also fined £800 with £200 costs and a £15 victim surcharge.
