Movies

Helen Flanagan Banned from Driving, Claims Boyfriend Speeding, Says Son Has Her Heart

BBG News

As a lifestyle enthusiast, I find myself emphasizing that my heart belongs uniquely to one special someone, having recently been prohibited from driving for a period of six months. While hailing a cab after an eventful day, I shared this sentiment, adding that it was my partner who was behind the wheel when the speeding incident occurred.

On Wednesday, the actress from Coronation Street, aged 34, received a suspension at Wirral Magistrates’ Court, as her arguments that the ban would lead to ‘significant distress’ were not accepted.

Helen, who is widely recognized for her portrayal of Rosie Webster on ITV’s soap opera, asserted that her partner, Robbie Talbot, was operating her £66,000 Audi Q7 when it was pulled over for speeding not once but twice within a 17-day span last June.

Instead, she faced accusations for not disclosing details about the identity of the driver in two separate cases.

Now, the impact of the ban is clearly being felt, as demonstrated by Helen posting a video on her Instagram stories over the weekend. The short clip shows her and her three-year-old son Charlie in a taxi, with her holding him on her lap.

She playfully advised him, “Don’t kick that fellow’s chair,” and teased the taxi driver by calling him “mischievous.

Later on, she shared a selfie accompanied by the mysterious message: “Deeply enamored with my son, the sole individual who can always claim my heart completely”.

In addition, Helen posted a delightful family selfie featuring herself, Charlie, as well as Matilda, aged nine, and Delilah, six. She captioned it by expressing that they make up her universe.

Following her day in court, the mother of three reposted on her Instagram a message originally shared by the podcast host, Bryony Gordon.

The picture showed a beautiful sunset over a beach, with the caption reading, ‘This moment will eventually fade away, yet what on earth is going to happen next?’ (or alternatively, ‘This moment won’t last forever, so what’s coming up next?’)

Helen asserted that she cannot cover the cost of the six-month suspension due to her present financial hardship, which prevents her from affording pricey taxis for transporting her children to school.

In their view, the magistrates felt that imposing a ban wouldn’t necessarily result in extraordinary difficulties for Helen, given that she already had six points on her driving license.

They also ordered her to pay a £2,000 fine, £800 victim surcharge and £110 for prosecution costs.

After the magistrates rejected her requests for leniency, the actress exited the courtroom with a reddened complexion. This was due to plans she had to transport her kids, visit their footballer dad Scott Sinclair, and attend therapy sessions.

Apart from mentioning this, she added that her secluded highland residence is so far away that a trip to the store for essentials like bread and milk takes 10 minutes to drive there. She also expressed that living in such a remote area would present significant challenges without a car.

Helen, residing in proximity to Bolton, Greater Manchester, informed the court that her earnings for the previous year amounted to £70,000. However, she emphasized that her income fluctuates and expressed financial constraints, stating she couldn’t afford a £10 taxi for taking her son to nursery.

Stephen Kirk, the prosecutor, detailed that Helen, who previously had six points for speeding, neglected to identify the driver when her car was caught speeding in various locations across Merseyside last June. Specifically, the car was traveling at 42 mph in a 30 mph zone and 51 mph in a 40 mph zone.

The magistrates added six points to her tally for every offense, bringing her grand total to 18 points. This significantly surpasses the typical 12-point limit where magistrates usually enforce a ban unless there are exceptional circumstances that cause undue hardship.

In a desperate attempt to retain her license, Helen apologized, admitting that she had naively believed it would be alright if her partner took the wheel instead of her.

Helen informed the court that she devotes all her time to being a mother to Matilda, Delilah, and Charlie, utilizing the car to transport them to daycare, school, and various activities.

She mentioned that her primary role is being a stay-at-home mom since their father is employed elsewhere. Currently, it’s quite challenging for her to generate income due to circumstances, as she supplements our family’s finances through social media platforms, and the earnings can sometimes be unpredictable.

She noted: ‘Perhaps people assume I could effortlessly pay for a chauffeur, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.’

‘I’ve got enough money in my account to pay off my tax and my VAT and basically that’s about it.’

In response to being asked by solicitor Patrick Boyers about how she gets her son Charlie to nursery without a car, she explained that she uses Uber (a taxi service), but it’s quite costly. Currently, she is facing financial difficulties.

Inquired about the price by the shop assistant, she responded by sharing that she had taken an Uber ride from her home to the nursery that day and it had cost £10.

Additionally, she asserted that her son doesn’t travel comfortably in a taxi, but thrives when secured in a vehicle, ensuring his safety.

Afterward, Mr. Boyers detailed that Helen has been visiting a therapist named Liz in Birmingham since the year 2016 for her appointments.

Helen mentioned that she began attending therapy sessions once she experienced postpartum depression following the birth of her eldest child.

She mentioned that she drives approximately once every two months or so, when she feels her mental well-being is becoming particularly challenging. She finds great assistance in this. She battles severe anxiety, OCD, and ADHD.

The TV personality said she ‘used to earn quite well’ but her income ‘now varies’.

Subsequently, Helen shared that she relied on the car for transporting her kids to visit their dad, who’s a 35-year-old footballer, named Scott.

At a highway rest stop situated equally between her house and Scott’s house in Bath, Somerset, they were found to have gathered.

She mentioned that acquiring a driver was out of the question due to cost reasons, as her boyfriend does not own a vehicle.

Moved by emotion, she explained that it wouldn’t be fair to impose responsibilities upon her parents… they already have enough on their plates, and considering their advanced age (late 60s), it would be challenging for them.

Helen mentioned that her parents had been encountering challenges due to the necessity of traveling to visit their son living in Bangkok, Thailand, as he struggles significantly with his mental wellness.

The actress expressed that her connection with Scott, her former partner of thirteen years, was extremely challenging, and driving them both would prove to be an undue hardship for Robbie.

‘No, I haven’t. My relationship with my former partner is quite challenging. It takes an immense toll on me.’

She said she had been ‘really, really angry’ at her boyfriend over the speeding.

Regarding her conviction stemming from unfinished paperwork, following a private court hearing that handles traffic violations, Helen expressed remorse by saying: “I’m truly sorry, I was incredibly foolish. I cannot express enough my regret.

‘If you can’t drive, you won’t be able to transport your three kids to daycare, meet with their father to continue your relationship, or keep your scheduled medical appointments, is that an accurate description?’

‘Yes’, she replied.

I might come across as someone who could depend on a driver if I were prohibited from driving, but that assumption is misleading. In reality, it’s quite different.

She mentioned that she has sufficient funds to cover her taxes, mortgage payments, and some tea. That’s all.

Inquired about her income, Helen replied, “I’m not particularly skilled in managing money. If I were to receive a fine, my accountant could review my financial records.

In simpler terms, David Holley, who is the head of the court where cases are heard, questioned Helen about whether Robbie could operate her vehicle if she were prohibited from doing so.

She expressed that it would make her extremely upset if her boyfriend were to remove something valuable from her possession, followed by him driving her car. She doesn’t believe this situation would be acceptable for her.

In my professional expertise as a lifestyle advisor, I’d express it this way: “Considering all points raised on your behalf, taking into account your responsibilities towards your three children, the consequences for your ex-partner, your current partner, and the potential effects on your mental wellbeing, I’ve made a decision to suspend your activities for a period of six months.

However, Mr. Holley stated that the ‘exceptional hardship’ claim is a ‘tough hurdle to overcome’. He further explained, ‘We are not convinced that those close to you will experience exceptional hardship.’

Helen gave a nod as the sentence was passed, agreeing to repay the fine in manageable monthly installments of £1,000. For each offense she committed, she received six penalty points added to her driving record.

She seemed taken aback and flushed as she spun around and departed from the courtroom, ignoring Robbie who trailed behind her.

The actress did not respond to press requests for comment.

Read More

2025-01-18 18:52

Previous post Paul Mescal and Gracie Abrams’ Tragic Night in London Restaurant
Next post Pregnant Charlotte Dawson Struggles with Final Trimester, Emotional Rollercoaster