DAWN French has been handed a six-month driving ban after racking up her fourth speeding offence in three years.
The comedian, 68, picked up 12 points on her licence after she was caught driving her £31,000 Mini Clubman Cooper S Sport at 36mph in a 30mph zone in Plymouth, Devon, on June 11 last year.
At the time of the offence French – famed for her role as Geraldine Granger in The Vicar of Dibley and her comedy double act with Jennifer Saunders – had already picked up nine points from speeding, Plymouth Magistrates’ court heard.
The TV star did not attend the hearing in person but her solicitor Chris Spencer said: “It’s a misjudgement on her part for which she has already pleaded guilty online.
“She expresses her remorse.”
Mr Spencer added that French accepted she would now receive a ban.
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District Judge Stuart Smith told her she couldn’t get behind the wheel for six months following the hearing.
Judge Smith said: “It’s a matter which falls into the lowest subcategory of the speeding guidelines with a fine in Band A and three penalty points.
“Three penalty points added to the nine therefore triggers the disqualification provision.”
Ms French was also ordered to pay a £600 fine, £240 victim surcharge and £90 costs after the court heard her income was over £2,000 per week.
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Judge Smith initially ordered the money be paid within 14 days but extended the deadline to 21 days after Mr Spencer requested she be given more time.
French – who recently revealed she has lost 7.5stone from walking more – was previously caught speeding in June 2025 – within days of the offence that led to her ban – July 2024 and June 2023.
The Plymouth-born star has previously claimed she is “the most excellent driver you will ever meet and that is a fact” but in a 2016 interview she also admitted she once racked up points in Devon and Somerset in the same night after speeding through roadworks on the county boundary in her Range Rover Sport.