Alan Pardew receives six-month driving ban
Former Premier League manager Alan Pardew has been handed a six-month driving ban after accumulating multiple speeding offences, including his most recent incident in a £80,000 Porsche Macan, reports BritPanorama.
The 64-year-old, currently a presenter for TalkSport, admitted to “losing concentration” while driving in 20mph zones, having been caught speeding four times, three of which occurred in areas with reduced limits.
Pardew’s latest infringement involved driving at 26mph in a 20mph section of the A205 in Clapham on February 21, which brought his total penalty points to 12.
In an attempt to retain his driving licence, Pardew appeared at Bexley Magistrates’ Court, arguing that he provides vital support for his 93-year-old mother, who resides alone in Selsey, West Sussex. However, magistrates determined that the circumstances did not meet the criteria for “exceptional hardship.”
Following the ruling, Pardew remarked, “I apologise really, in terms of getting the driving ban. Three of my speeding offences were for going over a 20mph limit, so maybe it’s a warning to everyone not to lose concentration in those 20mph zones, as it’s so easy to do.”
Prior to this latest incident, Pardew had already accumulated nine points from other speeding violations in March 2022, May 2022, and May 2023. In court, he expressed concern that the ban would leave his mother more isolated.
“I’m just trying to keep her life as normal as possible after the loss of her husband,” he said. “She doesn’t want to live with myself or my sister, she wants to be at home.”
Pardew noted that he typically drives his mother to London once or twice a week for family visits and medical appointments. His representative, Anne-Marie Critchley, emphasized that without his driving, his mother would struggle with independence. “Mr Pardew’s mother is not able to use public transport and fears total isolation without his support,” she stated.
Despite the arguments put forth, magistrate Sonia Case indicated that the situation did not rise to a level that could overturn the disqualification. Pardew, originally from Warlingham in Surrey, was also ordered to pay £1,034 in fines and costs.
Pardew’s football career spans several high points and controversies. He notably led West Ham to the 2006 FA Cup final and achieved a fifth-place finish with Newcastle in the Premier League in 2012. His managerial tenure has also included situations that attracted media attention, such as a seven-match ban in 2014 after an altercation with Hull City’s David Meyler.
Having transitioned into broadcasting after his coaching career, this latest development adds another chapter to Pardew’s already noteworthy journey in football.
In a sport fraught with pressures, Pardew’s situation serves as a reminder of the fine line many navigate between personal responsibility and public scrutiny, illustrating how swiftly the spotlight can shift from the pitch to the courtroom.
