Ex-Olympian given driving ban after doing 47mph on a 30mph road
Ex-Olympic sprinter Kriss Akabusi has been banned from driving for six months and handed a fine of over £1,000 after he was caught speeding.
Mr Akabusi, 65, was caught travelling at 47mph on a 30mph country road on the Isle of Wight in a Range Rover Vogue which retailed for over £84k brand new.
Mr Akabusi already had nine points on his driving license and tried to fight disqualification by claiming in court that he has ‘exceptional hardship.’
This argument was dismissed at Southampton Magistrate Court and instead he was handed a six month driving ban and fined £1,036.
Mr Akabusis was one of Team GB’s star athletes in the 1980s and 1990s – winning a silver medal at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics and two bronze medals in Barcelona in 1992.
Kriss Akabusi, 65, has been banned from driving after he was caught travelling at 47mph on a 30mph country road on the Isle of Wight in his Range Rover
Mr Akabusa at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics where he won a silver medal. He was one of Team GB’s star athletes in the 1980s and 1990s
One of those medals in Barcelona for the 400 metre hurdles set a British record of 47.82 seconds. The record still stands more than 30 years later.
He also won five gold medals across the World Championships, European Championships, and the Commonwealth Games.
After retiring from the sport he became a well known television presenter on shows including the BBC’s Record Breakers.
The court heard that while travelling on the A3054 by the village of Shalfleet, Mr Akabusi was driving 17mph over the 30mph speed limit.
The offence, which happened on April 20 2023, happened while Mr Akabusi was travelling in his 2014 Range Rover which appears to have a personalised number plate with his name on.
It was heard that Mr Akabusi, who lives in Leighton Buzzard in Bedfordshire, already had nine points on his licence from previous driving offences.
The ex-athlete tried to argue he had ‘exceptional hardship’ – a legal argument put forward to prevent being disqualified from driving.
But, the court dismissed his argument and chair magistrate Chris Elliott gave him three more points on his licence – meaning he breached the threshold for a ban at 12.
Mr Akabusi taking part in a athletics competition. While taking part in the 400m hurdle at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, he set a new British record of 47.82 seconds. The record has not been broken since
2014 Range Rover Vogue similar to the vehicle Mr Akabusi was caught speeding in. Brand new the car retailed for over £84k and Mr Akabusi was also said to have a personalised number plate on the car (stock image)
Mr Akabusi was banned from driving for six months. He was also ordered to pay £1,036 – comprised of a £660 fine, £110 in legal costs, and £266 in a victim surcharge fee.
However, the star has lodged an appeal against his disqualification – meaning he will have to face a judge at a crown court and argue his case.
His six month driving ban is suspended until the outcome of his appeal.
In an interview in 2013, Akabusi spoke about his love of fast cars.
He said: ‘I get my boy racer moments, but, actually, I am quite sedate.
‘I enjoy driving, I do 50,000 miles a year, most of it on the motorway. I don’t want to get myself in trouble, but I can get to places fast.’
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