Happy Mondays star Bez says he thought 'some kind of weirdo' was following him when police caught him driving his Bentley up to 90mph earlier this year.
The star - real name Mark Berry - was fined for 'reckless and careless' driving at at Warrington Magistrates’ Court on Friday [September 23], after two police officers in an unmarked car followed the former Dancing on Ice contestant driving on the M56 at the start of this year.
Bez, 58, told the police officers who tailed him for 13 minutes he thought he was being followed by "some kind of weirdo" so sped up to "get away". He was found guilty of driving without due care and attention on the M56 on Friday.
The Crown Prosecution Service said the former Celebrity Big Brother star was driving his Bentley Continental car on the northbound carriageway near junction five on January 3, when he offended.
Two police officers patrolling in an unmarked car decided to follow him after he cut across their vehicle, forcing them to brake, it was said.
They witnessed the defendant undertaking other cars and driving at excessive speeds through speed restricted roadworks, the court heard.
Bez then cut across all three lanes of the motorway, in front of a white van, to leave the motorway at junction five. At this point, he was travelling at around 85 to 90mph.
The officers stopped the vehicle on the off-ramp of junction five and spoke to Bez. By this time, they had been following him for around 13 minutes.
The star's reply to the police officers' query about his driving was that he thought he was being followed by "some kind of weirdo", so he had to speed up to "get away".
He was charged with driving without due care and attention. He denied the offence, but was found guilty following a trial. The Happy Mondays star was fined £1,009 and must pay a victim surcharge of £101 and costs of £400.
Three points have been added to his licence.
Following the hearing, senior district crown prosecutor Neil Colville, of CPS Mersey-Cheshire, said: “Berry was driving recklessly on that night without any thought for the other drivers on the road.
“It is lucky that someone was not hurt as he was driving at speed and carelessly. The fact that he cut across a car that was being driven by a police officer is fortuitous.
“That led them to follow him and stop him before he could cause any more issues.
“He has denied his wrongdoing until the end, but has now been found guilty.
“Some people think the laws of the land do not apply to them. Speed limits and road regulations are there to protect us all.
“Mark Berry chose to ignore them. He has been found guilty and has only himself to blame.”
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