Stormzy has been banned from driving after he was caught by an undercover police officer using a mobile phone while behind the wheel of his Rolls-Royce. The rapper – whose real name is Michael Ebenazer Owuo Junior – was driving in west London when he broke the law.
The 31-year-old pleaded guilty via a letter to the driving matter. He was caught using the mobile in Addison Road, west Kensington, shortly after 3.30pm on March 7, 2024.
An undercover officer knocked on his ‘tinted’ passenger window and said ‘get rid of your tints and get off your phone’, Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court heard. The vehicle’s use was dangerous and put ‘vulnerable road users at risk’, prosecutor Alice Holloway said.
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Peter Csemiczky, defending, said Owuo accepts responsibility and apologises. The tints have since been removed by the Vossi Bop hitmaker, he added.
District Judge Andrew Sweet said Owuo’s driving record is ‘not good’ and criticised his ‘dangerous and irresponsible’ actions. Owuo – who was not present in court – was handed a nine-month driving ban during the hearing on Thursday, January 2.
He was also fined £2,010 and handed six points on his licence. The court heard how Owuo already had six points on his licence for a previous speeding offence.
Owuo previously admitted driving a Lamborghini Urus which had its front windows illegally tinted to just four per cent light transmission, violating the 70 per cent requirement. He was stopped by officers on Coombe Lane, Kingston upon Thames, at about 12.45pm on October 17, 2023, after being previously warned about the windows.