LONDON (AP) 鈥� was banned from driving for nine months on Thursday after admitting he drove his Rolls-Royce through London while using his phone.
The 31-year-old, whose real name is Michael Ebenazer Owuo Jr., is known for bringing the grime genre of rap into the commercial mainstream. His debut 鈥淕ang Signs and Prayer鈥� won album of the year at the Brit Awards in 2018, where he was named best male British solo artist 鈥� an honor he won again in 2020.
His record on the road, however, isn鈥檛 good, a judge said at Wimbledon Magistrates鈥� Court.
District judge Andrew Sweet said that Stormzy鈥檚 actions were 鈥渄angerous and irresponsible.鈥�
Stormzy previously put 鈥渧ulnerable road users at risk鈥� when he drove a Lamborghini Urus with illegally tinted windows, prosecutor Alice Holloway said. The windows only allowed 4% light transmission 鈥� a tiny fraction of the 70% required for tinting.
Stormzy, who wasn鈥檛 in court for the hearing, pleaded guilty in writing to the cellphone driving charge from March. He had previously admitted to the 2023 tinting offense and also had a record of speeding.
The rapper was also fined 2,010 pounds ($2,500) and penalty points were added to his license.
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.
The Associated Press
