British rapper Stormzy, known off-stage as Michael Ebenazer Owuo Jr., has been banned from driving for nine months after admitting to using a mobile phone while driving his Rolls Royce Wraith. The 31-year-old pleaded guilty via a letter to Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court for the 7 March 2024 offence.
The court heard that an undercover officer caught the artist using his phone on Addison Road in West Kensington. The officer knocked on the vehicle’s tinted passenger window and instructed him, “get rid of your tints and get off your phone.” District Judge Andrew Sweet condemned the behaviour, calling it “dangerous and irresponsible” and emphasising that Stormzy’s driving record is not very good.
The rapper’s ban is partially the result of a longer list of driving violations. In October 2023, he was allegedly stopped in Kingston upon Thames while driving a Lamborghini Urus with illegally tinted front windows. The tints allowed only 4% light transmission, far below the legal limit of 70%. Prosecutor Alice Holloway said this posed a risk to “vulnerable road users.”
Stormzy, 31, has been banned from driving for 9 months after being caught using his phone whilst driving a Rolls Royce. pic.twitter.com/dw6DHS5NJ3
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Stormzy was fined £250 for the illegal tints and £900 for the mobile phone violation. He was also ordered to pay a £460 victim surcharge and £400 in costs, bringing the total penalty to £2,010.
Before this incident, he already had six points on his license, making the additional penalties sufficient to disqualify him from driving under UK law.
Peter Csemiczky, Stormzy’s lawyer, said the artist “accepts responsibility for his actions” and noted that “he has now removed the tint from his vehicles.” Judge Sweet, while acknowledging Stormzy’s guilty plea, stressed that limited credit was given because it came so late on in the legal proceedings.
The judge noted that the court had considered the rapper’s history when determining the penalty.
This case has reignited debates about celebrity accountability, particularly in adhering to the law. As a high-profile figure, his actions are scrutinised not only for their legal consequences but also for their wider societal impact.
The incident also highlights the risks of distracted driving. Using a mobile phone while driving is illegal in the UK, with strict penalties designed to deter such behaviour and improve road safety.
With a nine-month ban in place, Stormzy’s driving privileges have been revoked for the foreseeable future. The penalties reflect both the court’s determination to uphold traffic laws and its concern over repeated infractions.
Stormzy has been granted seven days to pay his fines.
