Stormzy has been fined after being caught by police using his phone while driving his £400,000 Ferrari. This marks the second time the music superstar has been penalised for a mobile phone offence.
Incident Details
The rapper, whose real name is Michael Ebenazer Owuo Junior, was pulled over by a Metropolitan Police constable last November near his Kingston upon Thames home. He had been spotted typing an address into his phone's map application while in stationary traffic.
The 32-year-old admitted the offence at the roadside. At Croydon Magistrates' Court, Stormzy pleaded guilty to not having proper control of his vehicle. Magistrate Lynn Keane fined him £533, plus £120 costs and a £213 victim surcharge, also adding three penalty points to his licence.
Police Account
According to court papers obtained by the Press Association, Stormzy was pulled over in his black Ferrari Purosangue at 9.25am on November 10 by Pc Glen Lambert. The officer said in a statement that he noticed the driver was “distracted and no longer in proper control” of the supercar.
“As I passed the vehicle on the offside to filter through traffic I noticed the driver was inputting an address on his maps application on his mobile phone,” Pc Lambert said. “From what I had seen of the vehicle’s movements I was satisfied that the standard of driving had fallen below that of a driver in full, careful control of their vehicle. I stopped the vehicle and spoke with the driver. The driver confirmed that he had just been setting a route on his maps and that he had only just picked up the device as I passed.”
Previous Offence
This incident happened a month after he had run out of petrol in the same Ferrari on Putney High Street. While waiting for assistance, the rapper staged an impromptu meet-and-greet with fans and posted a video of the incident.
After his latest conviction, Stormzy was given a month to settle the total court bill of £866. His prosecution was dealt with by the Single Justice Procedure on May 7, in a private hearing which he was not required to attend.
This marks the second time the music superstar has been penalised for a mobile phone offence. He was caught by an off-duty police officer driving his Rolls Royce Wraith while using the hand-held device on Addison Road, west Kensington on March 7, 2024. During an appearance at Wimbledon Magistrates' Court in London on January 2, 2025, he was served with a nine-month ban. As well as his ban, he was ordered to pay a £2,010 fine which must be paid within seven days. The judge who sentenced the musician branded his actions as "dangerous" and "irresponsible."
