Rapper Stormzy Banned From Driving For Nine Months

A London judge has banned British grime musician Stormzy from driving for nine months after he was spotted using a mobile phone while driving a Rolls-Royce in west London.

District Judge Andrew Sweet issued the ban to the 31-year-old rapper, whose real name is Michael Ebenezer Owuo Junior, at a hearing at Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court on Thursday. Stormzy had pled guilty to the offense, which took place on March 7 last year in West Kensington, by letter.

In addition to the driving restriction, the judge fined him £2,010 ($2,498) for six penalty points on his licence. Stormzy already got six points from a previous speeding violation, making his total to 12, which, under UK law, results in automatic disqualification.

Sweet criticized Stormzy’s actions, calling them “dangerous and irresponsible,” and said the rapper’s driving record was “not good.” Stormzy’s lawyer, Peter Csemiczky, informed the court that his client accepted responsibility for his acts and apologized.

Stormzy is a well-known personality in the British grime scene, combining Jamaican dancehall and hip hop to create a distinct, hard-edged sound. His influence goes far beyond music, with his biggest singles appearing in television commercials. He made history in 2019 by being the first black UK solo artist to headline the Glastonbury music festival.