Bradley Walsh’s son Barney was branded “arrogant” by magistrates and was fined £1,000 for speeding at 95 miles per hour.
The 26-year-old Casualty star drove at 95mph in a 2023-plate Mercedes on the M4 in Swindon, Wiltshire in March this year. He was called to enter a plea at Swindon Magistrates Court on Wednesday. The star, who co-hosts Gladiators with his dad Bradley, was prepared to enter a guilty plea for driving “between 93mph and 95mph.”
His solicitors disputed the police’s claims that Barney was driving at 97mph. Presiding magistrate Mark Baker branded the TV presenter as “arrogant” and hit out at him for not voluntarily appearing at his session in person. It is understood he was unable to attend due to filming commitments and it had been approved by court.
Baker said: “We find this a little bit arrogant that this plea is coming from a firm representing Mr Walsh when he was summoned to appear here. But he has not appeared and nor have his representatives. Other people today have made great efforts to get here from considerable distances, yet Mr Walsh seems to think that he does not need to appear.” The star had the option of pleading by post, which he accepted.
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Bradley Walsh’s son Barney was caught speeding earlier this year (Image:
BBC STUDIOS)
Baker added: “Some people seem to think they do not need to turn up, but if they are summonsed they are expected to.” Prosecutor Anna Hughes said Wiltshire Police saw the star’s Mercedes GLC 300 zoom past a manned camera on the M4 at 4.30 pm on March 6 this year.
Officers said he was driving at the speed of 97mph but Barney’s lawyers said the soap actor ‘believes he was travelling at between 93mph and 95mph and he is prepared to plead guilty on this basis’. Usually, speeding offences like Barney’s result in a £2,500 fine, but the magistrate reduced his fine to £1,000, giving him the benefit of the doubt. He also got five more penalty points on his licence, bringing his total to eight.
The TV star was told to pay an additional £490 in court costs and has 28 days to settle his dues with the court. Barney is known for appearing on Breaking Dad with his father and made appearances in Doctors, Law & Order, King Arthur: Legend of the Sword and All Star Musicals. He played Ryan Cook in a 2023 episode of Death in Paradise and landed the role of Cameron in Casualty. He also presents the revived version of Gladiators with his dad.
