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Helen Flanagan’s six-month driving ban spells disaster for her ‘tired’ celebrity mum life

BBG News

On a recent Friday, Helen Flanagan posted an enigmatic message on Instagram, not long after receiving a six-month ban on driving.

On Wednesday, a 34-year-old actress from Coronation Street received a suspension at the Wirral Magistrates’ Court. Her argument that the ban would lead to “exceptional hardship” was not accepted by the court.

Helen, famously recognized for portraying Rosie Webster on ITV’s soap opera, asserted that her partner, Robbie Talbot, was behind the wheel of her £66,000 Audi Q7 when it was pulled over for speeding not once, but twice within a 17-day period last June.

Instead, she faced charges for not providing details about the identity of a driver on two separate occasions.

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

The picture showed a beautiful sunset over a beach, accompanied by the phrase, ‘This as well shall fade away, yet what on earth does that mean?’ or simply, ‘This sunset scene will eventually disappear, but why use such an ambiguous statement?’

As a lifestyle expert, I find myself in a challenging financial situation at the moment, making it impossible for me to comply with a six-month ban due to the steep costs associated with transporting my kids to school via expensive taxis.

Nonetheless, the magistrates expressed doubts that imposing a ban would unduly harm Helen, given she already possessed six penalty points on her driver’s 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 noticeable redness on her face. This was due to her plans to pick up her kids, visit their soccer player dad Scott Sinclair, and attend therapy sessions.

Additionally, she mentioned her secluded highland residence is so far removed that a trip to the store for essentials like bread and milk takes only 10 minutes by car. She admitted she’d face significant difficulties managing in this outlying area without access to a vehicle.

In a court setting, Helen, a resident of Bolton, Greater Manchester, shared that her annual earnings were approximately £70,000. However, she noted that her income fluctuates, and under those circumstances, she found it challenging to pay for a taxi costing £10 to transport her son to nursery.

Stephen Kirk, the prosecutor, explained that Helen, who previously accumulated six penalty points for speeding violations, neglected to identify the driver when her vehicle was clocked speeding at various locations on Merseyside last June, traveling 12 mph over the 30mph limit at one spot and 11 mph over the 40mph limit at another.

For every offense she committed, magistrates added six penalty points to her license, raising her total to 18 points. This number exceeds the usual 12-point limit at which magistrates typically enforce a driving ban unless there are compelling reasons to do otherwise (known as ‘exceptional hardship’).

In an attempt to preserve my license, I humbly apologize. In a moment of misjudgment, I believed it was permissible for my partner to take the wheel, leading authorities to mistakenly believe that I was driving instead.

Helen shared with the court that she dedicates her entire day as a full-time caretaker for her kids – Matilda, aged nine, Delilah, six, and Charlie, three years old. She uses the car to transport them to their respective nursery, school, and extracurricular activities.

She mentioned that her primary role is being a stay-at-home mom since their father is often away for work. At present, it’s quite challenging for her to generate income due to circumstances. She makes money through social media platforms, though the earnings can be unpredictable.

She mentioned, “It might seem like I could effortlessly pay for a driver, but let me assure you, that is certainly not true.

‘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 takes 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 significant financial difficulties.

The clerk asked about the cost, to which she replied, “This morning, I took an Uber from my home to the nursery. That trip cost me £10.

She additionally stated that her son doesn’t travel as comfortably in a taxi, and he is significantly more secure when secured in a vehicle.

Afterward, Mr. Boyers explained that Helen had been visiting a therapist named Liz in Birmingham since the year 2016 for her travels.

After the birth of her oldest daughter, Helen mentioned that she began seeking help when she experienced postpartum depression.

She mentioned that she only drives approximately every two months or so, when she feels she is having significant difficulties with her mental well-being. She finds great support in this as she battles severe anxiety, OCD, and ADHD.

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

Subsequently, Helen clarified that she relied on the automobile for transportation to enable her kids’ visits with their dad, professional soccer player Scott (age 35).

At the midpoint between her home in Bath, Somerset, and Scott’s home, the court learned that they often rendezvous at a rest area along the highway.

She mentioned that it’s financially unfeasible for her to obtain a driver due to the high cost, as her boyfriend does not own a vehicle.

Overwhelmed with emotion, she remarked that it wouldn’t be fair to impose responsibilities onto her parents, as they already have numerous obligations and are well into their senior years.

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

The actress expressed that her relationship with Scott, her former partner of 13 years, was extremely challenging, and it would prove too complex for Robbie to mediate their issues.

In response to inquiry about discussing alternate plans concerning their kids with Scott, Helen replied: ‘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 due to the unfinished paperwork, which occurred during a closed-door hearing specifically for motor vehicle offenses (single justice procedure), Helen expressed remorsefully: ‘I’m truly sorry, I was incredibly foolish. I can’t express enough how remorseful I am.’

As a lifestyle expert, I’d rephrase it this way: ‘If you don’t have the ability to drive, as a single mother of three, it would significantly impact your ability to take your children to nursery, visit their father to uphold your relationship, and attend necessary medical appointments. Does that resonate with your situation?’

‘Yes’, she replied.

I believe others might assume I could trust a driver if I were disallowed to drive, but that’s definitely not true.

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

Inquired about her income, Helen replied: “I’m quite poor when it comes to managing my finances. My accountant would be able to examine my financial records if there were any penalties involved.

In simpler terms, the chairperson of the court, David Holley, inquired whether Robbie could operate Helen’s vehicle if she was prohibited from driving it.

I’d be absolutely furious if my partner dared to snatch something precious from me and then have the audacity to drive my vehicle. Frankly, it wouldn’t go down at all with me!

In light of the considerations made for all aspects presented on your behalf, including the care of your three children, the potential hardships for your ex-partner, your current partner’s situation, and the effects a ban might have on your mental wellbeing, Mr. Holley decided to impose a six-month restriction upon Helen.

However, Mr. Holley stated that the “exceptional hardship” claim is a significant hurdle to overcome. He further explained, “We are not convinced that your surroundings would experience extraordinary hardship in this situation.

Helen gave a nod as the sentence was handed down, agreeing to repay the fine in installments of £1,000 per month. For each offense, she received six penalty points on her driving record.

She looked surprised and flushed as she spun around and exited the courtroom without responding to Robbie, who trailed behind her.

The actress did not respond to press requests for comment.

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2025-01-18 12:50

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