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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
World
Tristan Kirk

S Club’s Rachel Stevens faces driving ban after being caught speeding twice

S Club 7 singer Rachel Stevens is facing a driving ban after twice being caught speeding in two months on the same road through Regent’s Park.

The star, 45, was driving at more than twice the 20mph limit when she was pulled over by police in September and November last year.

Stevens was caught out on the three-mile-long Outer Circle in Regent’s Park, by officers with speed guns.

She has pleaded guilty to two charges of speeding, and is due to be sentenced with a possible driving ban at Bromley magistrates’ court on Tuesday.

Stevens, who had hits with Reach and Don’t Stop Moving, has endured a difficult 12 months, including the breakdown of her 12-year marriage to childhood sweetheart Alex Bourne.

She reflected on the “painful” split in February, as the £1.6 million family home in north London was sold and the former couple continue to co-parent daughters Amelie, 12, and Minnie, eight.

The singer, a recent guest host on Heart FM, is in the middle of preparing an S Club 7 comeback tour scheduled for this summer. But the pop band were devastated by news of bandmate Paul Cattermole’s death last month, aged just 46.

Court documents show Stevens was first caught speeding in a BMW X3 series at just before 12.30pm on September 9. She was doing 41mph.

A police officer said he was stationed near to Cumberland Terrace at 12.29pm when he saw a black 4x4 travelling south towards him. “I formed the opinion the vehicle was exceeding the speed limit,” he said.

The second incident was at 10.06am on November 7 last year, when Stevens was this time behind the wheel of a Mini Cooper. Police clocked the car at 42mph after noticing the vehicle “accelerating rapidly away”, the court heard.

According to police, the singer made no comment during each of the roadside stops. She pleaded guilty in writing and indicated she did not want to attend court to be sentenced.

According to court records, Mr Bourne was also caught speeding in December last year, receiving a 28-day road ban for an almost identical offence.

He had been caught at 40mph in Regent’s Park, and after pleading guilty was ordered to pay a £692 fine, £100 in costs, and a £69 court fee.

Stevens has been prosecuted through the single justice procedure, pleading guilty in writing without open court hearings.

She has now been summonsed ahead of the court hearing in Bromley tomorrow, with the court log noting: “To attend re disqualification”. A representative for Stevens said they would not comment on the court cases.

Meanwhile, the band are rebranding as “S Club” following the death of Paul Cattermole. The group will still go on tour to mark their 25th anniversary, but bandmate Hannah Spearritt will not take part.

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