British rapper Stormzy banned from driving for nine months

British rapper, Michael Ebenazer Owuo Junior, popularly known as Stormzy, has been banned from driving for nine months after being caught using a mobile phone while behind the wheel of his Rolls-Royce. 

The incident occurred on March 7, 2024 in West Kensington, London, and was observed by an undercover police officer.

On Thursday, District Judge Andrew Sweet issued the ban during a hearing at Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court. 

The 31-year-old rapper had pleaded guilty to the offence in a written statement. In addition to the driving ban, Stormzy was fined £2,010 after six penalty points were added to his licence.

Before the hearing, Stormzy already had six penalty points on his licence due to a previous speeding offence. Under UK law, accumulating 12 or more points within three years typically results in disqualification from driving.

Judge Sweet criticised the rapper’s driving record, describing it as “not good” and labelling his actions “dangerous and irresponsible.” 

Stormzy’s lawyer, Peter Csemiczky, stated that the artist had accepted responsibility for the offence and offered his apologies.

Stormzy is widely recognised as a leading figure in the British grime music scene, a genre blending Jamaican dancehall and hip hop influences. 

He made history in 2019 by becoming the first black British solo artist to headline the Glastonbury music festival, cementing his status as a cultural icon. 

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