An actor famed for roles in EastEnders and James Bond films has avoided a driving ban after breaking down in court while describing the severe health struggles of his wife and daughter.
Emotional Plea in Court
Colin Salmon, 64, was visibly emotional as he addressed Lavender Hill Magistrates' Court in south-west London. The actor pleaded guilty to driving his 22-year-old silver Suzuki Wagon at 24mph in a 20mph zone on Old Oak Road, Acton, on 31 March. A speed camera captured the offence at 7.17am, not far from his £1.2 million family home in Shepherd's Bush.
Salmon already had nine penalty points on his licence for prior motoring offences, including speeding in April 2023, jumping a red light in February this year, and driving without due care and attention in April. The three new points for this latest infringement would typically trigger an automatic six-month disqualification.
Family Reliance Leads to Leniency
However, magistrates ruled that disqualifying Salmon would cause 'exceptional hardship' to his family. Bench chairman Mark Stollery noted the actor is the main breadwinner and carer for his family, with several members having life-limiting conditions.
Salmon wept as he outlined the serious health battles faced by his artist wife, Fiona Hawthorne, and their daughter, Sasha. Fiona suffers from interstitial lung disease, which left her dependent on an oxygen tank. She underwent a double lung transplant in Chicago in June 2024 but remains in a terminal condition with a severely compromised immune system.
His daughter Sasha was diagnosed with lymphoma, a blood cancer, in 2019. The court also heard that Salmon's son, Ben, is high-functioning autistic and can become overwhelmed in public.
'They rely on you abnormally compared to most families,' Mr Stollery told Salmon, also acknowledging the actor's charitable work which requires significant travel.
Career Change and Consequences
Salmon explained that he abandoned his international acting career to take a role on BBC's EastEnders—earning £15,000 per month—specifically to stay close to home for emergencies. He plays ex-boxer George Knight, the patriarch of the Knight family.
'My wife fell ill while I was working in America, so I needed to stay home,' he told the court. He added that his EastEnders contract requires him to be self-sufficient for travel to and from the Elstree studios.
Despite the reprieve, Salmon was fined £666, ordered to pay £130 in costs and a £266 victim surcharge. He expressed remorse for his speeding, stating: 'I am embarrassed and ashamed. I feel strongly about speeding near schools so to do this is ridiculous.' He has since fitted a radar device to his car.
The actor, known for playing MI6's Charles Robinson in three Pierce Brosnan-era Bond films, also detailed his own health issues, including being 'hit hard' by Covid and recently undergoing hip replacement surgery.
