British grime star, Stormzy has been banned from driving for nine months after being caught using a mobile phone behind the wheel of his Rolls-Royce Wraith in west London.
The 31-year-old rapper, whose real name is Michael Ebenazer Owuo Junior, pleaded guilty via a letter to the offence, which occurred on Addison Road, West Kensington, in March last year, BBC reports Thursday.
Sky News also stated that District judge Andrew Sweet, presiding at Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court, criticised Stormzy’s “dangerous and irresponsible” actions, noting that his driving record was “not good”
According to multiple reports, the judge added six points to the rapper’s licence, resulting in the automatic disqualification, and imposed a fine of £2,010.
“Get rid of your tints and get off your phone,” the off-duty officer reportedly told Stormzy after knocking on his tinted passenger window, according to accounts shared in court, says The Guardian.
The grime star had initially denied the charge but later wrote to the court to change his plea.
This incident follows a pattern of driving infractions for the award-winning artist.
Prosecutor Alice Holloway revealed that in October 2023, Stormzy was stopped while driving a Lamborghini Urus with front windows illegally tinted to only 4 per cent light transmission, far below the legal requirement of 70 per cent.
At the time, Holloway stated, the vehicle’s condition posed a risk to “vulnerable road users.”
Despite prior warnings, Stormzy was caught driving the Lamborghini on Coombe Lane, Kingston upon Thames, before finally removing the illegal tints.
Stormzy’s lawyer, Peter Csemiczky, emphasised his client’s acceptance of responsibility and willingness to comply with the law.
“He apologises and acknowledges his mistakes,” Csemiczky said, adding that the offending tints have now been removed.
Stormzy, a towering figure in the grime scene, has made headlines not just for his music but for his cultural impact.
Sky News added that he became the first black British solo artist to headline Glastonbury in 2019.
However, this latest legal setback underscores the consequences of repeated traffic violations, regardless of status or celebrity.
The rapper did not appear in court for the hearing.
Grime is a genre of electronic dance music (EDM) that emerged in London in the early 2000s. It developed out of the earlier UK dance style UK garage.
The name “grime” was coined by journalists who initially termed the music’s sub-bass heavy sound as “grimy”, which subsequently became “grime”.
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