West Ham midfielder Samir Nasri avoids driving ban for speeding
Friday 1 March 2019 12:48, UK
West Ham midfielder Samir Nasri has avoided a driving ban despite being caught speeding at the double the limit.
The 31-year-old pleaded guilty to driving at 60mph in a 30mph zone last year, but escaped with points on his licence as opposed to a ban.
His Mercedes was recorded driving at twice the legal limit by a handheld speed gun in Painters Road in Ilford, east London, on November 16 last year.
Nasri, who joined West Ham in January after completing an 18-month doping ban from football, opted not to attend the hearing, which took place at Stratford Magistrates' Court on Friday.
Chair of the bench Jerome Geoghegan endorsed Nasri's previously clean French driving licence with six points.
The former France international was also fined £400 and ordered to pay another £184 in costs and other charges within 28 days after the court heard he had not filled in a means form stating his salary.
Mr Geoghan said magistrates had to assume a "regularly weekly income", adding: "As we have no information, we will assume the income levels, etc proscribed by the court in the matter of Mr Nasri, who has pleaded guilty to speeding."
Nasri made his fourth appearance of the season on Wednesday night, returning to his former club Manchester City as West Ham suffered a 1-0 defeat.
He was handed an 18-month ban from playing football for receiving an intravenous treatment at a Los Angeles clinic in breach of the World Anti-Doping Agency's rules.
Nasri previously received a six-month driving ban in 2013 after he admitted to three charges of failing to provide police with the identity of the driver of his car which was clocked speeding.
