Former Top Gear host Richard Hammond has been fined a total of £1,771 after pleading guilty to two separate speeding offences committed 20 days apart while driving his Porsche Taycan and Bentley Continental in Herefordshire, UK.
Quick Answer: Former Top Gear host Richard Hammond, 56, has been fined £999 combined by a UK court after he was caught speeding twice within three weeks in his Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo and Bentley Continental. Including costs and surcharges, his total payment comes to £1,771.
Richard Hammond, best known for co-hosting Top Gear alongside Jeremy Clarkson and James May before the trio launched The Grand Tour on Amazon Prime, has pleaded guilty to two counts of speeding after being caught by police cameras in Herefordshire, England.
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What Happened
Hammond was clocked driving his Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo at 68mph in a 50mph zone on the A40 in Pencraig, Herefordshire, on December 2 last year. Just 20 days later, on December 22, he was caught again — this time behind the wheel of his Bentley Continental.
West Mercia Police pursued two separate prosecutions against the 56-year-old presenter, using speed camera footage from both incidents as evidence. Court documents also revealed that police spent several weeks sending correspondence to Hammond’s various properties in an effort to track him down before the case reached court.
The Court’s Decision
Magistrate Ann Minton ordered Hammond to pay a combined total of £1,771 — comprising two individual fines of £333 and £666, £240 in prosecution costs, and £532 in victim surcharges.
Hammond entered guilty pleas to both charges through his legal representatives, avoiding a contested hearing.
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Hammond’s History Behind the Wheel
This isn’t the first time Hammond’s high-speed lifestyle has made headlines. The presenter, affectionately nicknamed “The Hamster” by his former co-stars, survived a jet car crash at speeds of around 320mph during Top Gear filming in 2006. In 2013, he and Clarkson were handed a three-month driving ban in France after being caught speeding while filming an episode of the show.
Why This Matters for Enthusiasts
Hammond’s case is a reminder that even seasoned professional drivers and TV personalities are not exempt from speed enforcement — and that camera-based detection, combined with persistent follow-up by law enforcement, continues to close gaps that once let high-profile offenders slip through. For automotive enthusiasts who follow Hammond, Clarkson, and May’s decades-long on-screen chemistry, the incident adds another chapter to a long running theme: fast cars, faster reflexes, and occasional run-ins with the law.
SOURCE
Source Name: PA News (via Stratford Herald)
FAQ Richard Hammond Fined
How much was Richard Hammond fined for speeding?
Hammond was fined a combined total of £1,771, which includes two individual fines (£333 and £666), £240 in court costs, and £532 in victim surcharges.
What cars was Richard Hammond driving when caught speeding?
He was driving a Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo during the first offence on December 2, and a Bentley Continental during the second offence on December 22.
Where did the speeding offences take place?
Both incidents occurred in Herefordshire, England — the Porsche incident on the A40 in Pencraig at 68mph in a 50mph zone.
Did Richard Hammond plead guilty?
Yes, Hammond pleaded guilty to both charges of speeding through his lawyers.
Has Richard Hammond had previous speeding issues?
Yes. He and Jeremy Clarkson received a three-month driving ban in France in 2013 after being caught speeding while filming Top Gear.