Neil Lennon attacks ‘nonsense’ driving ban

Neil Lennon was banned from driving yesterday. Picture: SNS

Lennon, 42, branded the court verdict “nonsense” after he was disqualified for six months under the totting-up procedure.

The court heard he had nine points on his licence when caught speeding in his Audi Q7 in Perthshire on 6 October last year – at 12 points drivers face a ban.

His legal team tried to persuade Perth’s Justice of the Peace Court the radar machine which clocked him driving at 83 miles an hour was not accurate.

But JP Allan Robertson rejected the no case to answer submission and found Lennon guilty of speeding on the Perth to Stirling dual carriageway.

He said: “You were sitting on nine live points, and when somebody reaches that tally they should be very careful about how they conduct themselves on the road.

“I am going to add four penalty points to your licence, which will take you over the threshold and you will incur a six-month disqualification from driving.”

The Celtic boss, who was in the dock for three hours, was also fined £260, to be paid in a month.

His solicitor Liam O’Donnell had argued that Lennon should not be disqualified for the full six months but should be given a shorter discretionary ban because of his job as Celtic manager.

He said: “He is the manager of a football team and requires to travel far and wide to watch games and watch players.

“He undertakes an enormous amount of charity work, such as dinners and golf days.

“The speed he has been convicted of is 83 miles per hour in a 70[mph zone]. It’s not grossly excessive.”

Leaving court, Lennon said the verdict was “nonsense”, adding: “You saw it for yourself. I do want to say something about it.”