Stormzy banned from driving for nine months

British rapper Stormzy has been banned from driving for nine months for using his phone from behind the wheel of his Rolls-Royce.

The 31-year-old musician might be one of the UK’s most famous grime stars, but that didn’t help his case in a London Magistrates’ Court. District judge Andrew Sweet said that Stormzy’s actions were “dangerous and irresponsible”.

Stormzy wasn’t in court for the hearing but pleaded guilty in writing to the charges of driving with a mobile phone in March 2024.

The Glastonbury 2019 headliner was also fined £2,010 (€2,422) and has had penalty points added to his license.

Alongside this new charge for driving his Rolls-Royce through London with his phone, Stormzy has also previously admitted to a 2023 tinting offence.

Stormzy previously put “vulnerable road users at risk” when he drove a Lamborghini Urus with illegally tinted windows, prosecutor Alice Holloway said. The windows only allowed 4% light transmission – a tiny fraction of the 70% required for tinting.

Defense lawyer Peter Csemiczky said that Stormzy apologized and accepted responsibility.

Driving bans are handed down regularly in England for traffic offenses. They can be discretionary or mandatory for using a phone while driving, depending on the nature of the offense.

Stormzy, real name Michael Ebenazer Owuo Jr., isn’t the only British musician to face a driving ban. In November last year, 2002 Pop Idol runner up Gareth Gates was ordered off the roads for six months after being caught speeding for the fourth time in three years.