Lee Ryan tells court he has 'no money' and cannot pay fine
Blue singer Lee Ryan has admitted to a court that he cannot afford to pay a £1,500 fine because he doesn't "have the money".
The 38-year-old was charged with speeding for driving a Mercedes at least 10 mph over the speed limit in Peterborough twice in August last year. However, the charges were dismissed as the prosecution couldn't offer up evidence to prove that he was behind the wheel of the car, but he was subsequently found guilty on two counts of failing to provide details about who was driving during those speeding incidents.
The singer appeared in Peterborough Magistrates' Court via a video link from Spain on Thursday and admitted he couldn't afford the £1,501 fine and legal costs because he's been "out of work due to Covid", and added, "I just don't have the money."
According to BBC News, Magistrate Alison Marsh said the court had taken into consideration that the music industry had been significantly hit by the Covid-19 pandemic and decided to charge him for one count rather than two.
He admitted that he didn't have any savings as he "spent them all" during the pandemic.
"I'm not working. I mean, they've stopped the gigs. I don't have any gigs," he said. "I haven't got anything."
Ryan was told that if he didn't pay the fine he would have to return to court and potentially face a prison sentence.
The singer, who insisted during the hearing that he had sent off the information about the driver, was also given two lots of six points on his licence, meaning he is banned from driving for 12 months.