Orlando Bloom’s mother, 78, is spared driving ban after she was caught doing 50mph in a 30mph zone because she was in a hybrid semi-automatic car she ‘didn’t get on with at all’
- Sonia Copeland-Bloom caught doing 50mph in a 30mph zone in January, 2019
- The 78-year-old children’s author was driving Toyota Yaris in Canterbury, Kent
- Dodged a driving ban at Folkestone Magistrates Court but ordered to pay fine
Sonia Copeland-Bloom, 78, (pictured) was given six penalty points on her licence at Folkestone Magistrates’ Court last week – which means she now has nine points – and was also ordered to pay a £200 fine and £85 in court costs
The mother of Hollywood star Orlando Bloom has been spared a driving ban after being caught speeding earlier this year.
Sonia Copeland-Bloom, a 78-year-old children’s author, appeared in the dock at Folkestone Magistrates Court to defend herself after being caught speeding in Canterbury, Kent.
The court heard how Copeland-Bloom, who lives in the village of Blean, near Canterbury, was caught speeding in January this year, doing 50mph in a 30mph zone.
She told the court how she ‘did not get on’ with car she was driving – a Toyota Yaris – as it had semi-automatic transmission, which she hadn’t got the hang of.
She pleaded with the court not to disqualify her from driving, saying: ‘I had a hybrid car that I didn’t get on with at all – it was half-manual and half-automatic.
‘It was a problem going up a steep hill – not that I’m blaming that as I am responsible for my driving.
‘I’m glad to say I got rid of it and got a new Toyota.’
The court heard how Copeland-Bloom (pictured with her son Orlando), who lives in the village of Blean, near Canterbury, was caught speeding in January this year, doing 50mph in a 30mph zone
She told the court how she ‘did not get on’ with car she was driving – a Toyota Yaris (stock image) – as it had semi-automatic transmission, which she hadn’t got the hang of
She added: ‘I drive every single day and go along that road most days – I do try to be a better driver.’
She said it would be ‘very inconvenient’ if she lost her driving licence, the Faversham News reported today.
JPs said that they had decided not to ban her from the roads at the hearing last week, despite the offence being ‘right on the edge of going into the most serious’.
She was given six penalty points on her licence – which means she now has nine points – and was also ordered to pay a £200 fine and £85 in court costs.