Chelsea footballer Ashley Cole has been found guilty of driving at 104mph in a 50mph zone in south-west London.

The player, from Godalming, Surrey, was caught speeding in his Lamborghini on the A3 in Kingston just after midday on 17 November 2008.

Cole, who was not present in court, had claimed he was being chased by paparazzi and denied the charge.

Kingston Magistrates' chairwoman Judith Jewell warned he may be banned from driving when sentenced on 29 January.

The court heard that, when stopped, Cole told police he was aware it was a 50mph zone and thought he was driving at 80mph but complained about a photographer following him.

'Unwelcome attention'

His lawyer Katherine Hodson had argued the player had no case to answer and claimed the speed gun might not have been operating properly.

Giving the verdict Ms Jewell said: "We find that we were convinced enough by the evidence given that he was travelling at 104mph.

"Our reasons are that we feel that the evidence of the police officer was credible, and we feel entitled to believe that the equipment was operating properly."

I asked him what speed he was doing and he said '80mph'

Pc John Wills, Surrey Police

Richard Lomax, prosecuting, said: "The defendant was stopped and spoken to and the words he said at the time, when it became plain that somebody was pointing a speed camera at him, were 'Can't you do anything about those idiots who keep chasing me?'."

He added: "It is plain that he found the attention of persons with cameras unwelcome and he was trying to get away from them.

"It cannot be a defence to the offence of speeding that one is trying to get away in the circumstances of members of the press showing excessive attention."

Traffic officer John Wills was on duty on Robin Hood Way and said Cole was aware of the 50mph limit.

"Then I asked him what speed he was doing and he said '80mph'. I pointed out he was doing considerably more than that and showed him the laser device.

"He pointed out that there was a man with a camera some distance further down the road.

"I saw him (the photographer) at that time, but I had no idea when he turned up. He was certainly not in evidence when I first saw the Lamborghini."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/8439767.stm

Gets all he deserves - paparazzi or no paparazzi. 104 in a 50 zone is inexcusable. Plus I'm jealous because my Nissan wouldn't even do 104 if it fell from the top of Everest.

bloody idiot. no excuses for driving like that, deserves all he gets. and ashley cole driving fast is stupid too..... :)

bloody idiot. no excuses for driving like that, deserves all he gets. and ashley cole driving fast is stupid too..... :)

I just hope my air brakes work.

I just hope my air brakes work.

Haven't you lost your 'air yet?

He's got a Lambo? Sweeeet

"It cannot be a defence to the offence of speeding that one is trying to get away in the circumstances of members of the press showing excessive attention."

I'm pretty sure Beckham got off a speeding charge by using exactly that defence.

No sympathy for Cole here.

Only 104 when he was trying to get away from paperazi ?? Should buy a porsche maybe ..........

I'd like to know why an offence committed on the 17th November 2008 (my birthday, by the way - maybe he was delivering my present) takes until early January 2010 to come to court, and sentence will not be passed until the 29th January? What difficult factors have to be pondered before sentencing him?

Silly boy - he shouldnt of got himself caught

While Ashley is hardly devoid of blame, this is another case of him being goaded into committing an offence (this time more major than his previous offence) by the paparazzi consistently bothering him and trying to annoy him.

Complete f**king pricks, the lot of them. Absolute human filth.

I'd like to know why an offence committed on the 17th November 2008 (my birthday, by the way - maybe he was delivering my present) takes until early January 2010 to come to court, and sentence will not be passed until the 29th January? What difficult factors have to be pondered before sentencing him?

Good lord, that is a shocking detail I missed myself. Although in America, we have separate traffic courts for these sorts of things

I dont have sympathy for speeders, but PK is right. They love goading him into this because they know they can. Im sure its far easier said than done, but Ashley should talk to someone about strategies for coping with the unwanted attention he gets

Edited January 6, 201016 yr by TheWestwayWonder

He's got a Lambo? Sweeeet

104mph on a Lambretta? Bloody hell, they've changed 'em since I were a lad

Good lord, that is a shocking detail I missed myself. Although in America, we have separate traffic courts for these sorts of things

I dont have sympathy for speeders, but PK is right. They love goading him into this because they know they can. Im sure its far easier said than done, but Ashley should talk to someone about strategies for coping with the unwanted attention he gets

I really thought you meant Peter Kenyon there.

Stupid boy. Hopefully he will learn from this and not do it again.

"I saw him (the photographer) at that time, but I had no idea when he turned up. He was certainly not in evidence when I first saw the Lamborghini."

Not very sharp these coppers, are they? - has someone pointed out to our bluebottle friend that the photographer was unlikely to be in the same vicinity of Ash at the same time, unless of course, he was also in a Lambourghini, which is unlikely - hacks being synonymous with mondeos etc.

Was he driven to meet Jose for dinner? :D

Was he driven to meet Jose for dinner?

I'd say I 'd just got a text from the misses saying she was taclked up, lying on the bed and gagging for it.

He won't get off, but every fella in the country would have sympathy and would excuse him for speeding home to that.

If someone decides to chase you, and your driving a lamborghini, its tempting right?

Not trying to defend him, but I can see why he's done it.

When fined lets hope he does,nt say cash or cheque

When fined lets hope he does,nt say cash or cheque

Brown envelope will do nicely

The rate at which these footballers get done for speeding, surely they'll have a direct debit set up?