Dawn French has been handed a six-month driving ban after being caught speeding in Plymouth, an offence that pushed her over the penalty point threshold. The 68-year-old actress and author, best known for her role in The Vicar of Dibley, did not attend the sentencing hearing at Plymouth Magistrates' Court on September 7.
Court records showed that French was caught by a speed camera on Mannamead Road in Plymouth on June 11, 2025, while driving in excess of the 30mph limit. According to a report in the Daily Mail, she was clocked travelling at 36mph.
At the time of the incident, French, whose address was listed as Calstock in south east Cornwall, was driving a Mini Clubman Cooper S Sport. The court heard that she had admitted the offence.
Penalty points exceed limit
District Judge Stuart Smith said that French's driving record would be endorsed with three penalty points for this latest offence. However, because of repeated driving offences, this took her over the 12 penalty point limit, resulting in an obligatory disqualification from driving for six months.
In addition to the driving ban, French was fined £600. She was also ordered to pay a £240 victim surcharge and £90 court costs.
Impact of the ban
The six-month disqualification means French will be unable to drive legally until March 2026. The case highlights the consequences of accumulating penalty points, which can lead to automatic bans under UK driving laws.
French's representatives have not publicly commented on the sentencing. The ban applies across the UK, and any driving during the disqualification period would constitute a separate criminal offence.
