Best-selling crime author Lynda La Plante has been disqualified from driving for six months. The 83-year-old pleaded guilty to breaking the 20mph speed limit near her Kingston-upon-Thames home five times between November 2025 and April this year.
The offences included driving at 24mph twice, 25mph, 26mph, and 27mph. The court heard she already had nine points on her licence from three previous speeding offences in June 2023, and June and July 2025.
Magistrate Mandy Lamplough stated that Ms La Plante had not sufficiently proven that the disqualification would cause her "exceptional hardship". The ban was issued as her total licence points reached 24. She was also fined £3,330, ordered to pay £130 costs, and a £1,332 victim surcharge.