Bestselling author Lynda La Plante has been disqualified from driving for six months by Lavender Hill Magistrates’ Court. The 83-year-old novelist pleaded guilty to breaking a 20mph speed limit five times between November 2025 and April 2026 near her Kingston-upon-Thames home.
The court heard that Ms La Plante already had nine points on her licence from three previous speeding offences in June 2023, and June and July 2025. Her latest offences, where she drove at speeds of 24mph, 25mph, 26mph, and 27mph, increased her points total to 24.
Ms La Plante told the court that her car was essential for meeting sources and criminals for research into her fiction, and for taking her guard dog, Theo, for walks. She argued that a ban would force her to rehome Theo and could end her writing career. However, magistrate Mandy Lamplough stated that Ms La Plante had not provided sufficient evidence to prove the disqualification would cause her “exceptional hardship”.
The author was fined a total of £3,330 and ordered to pay £130 in costs and a £1,332 victim surcharge.