Full Breakdown
Richard Hammond Fined for Dual Speeding Offences in Herefordshire
7/29/2026, 4:11:46 AM
Core Offences and Penalties
Richard Hammond, the 56-year-old former *Top Gear* presenter, was recorded speeding twice in three weeks. On December 2 he was clocked at 68 mph in a 50 mph zone while driving a Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo on the A40 in Pencraig, Herefordshire. On December 22 he was later caught at 82 mph in a 70 mph zone behind the wheel of a Bentley Continental GT on the M50 Rudhall Overbridge, also in Herefordshire. Hammond pleaded guilty through his solicitor. Magistrate Ann Minton ordered a total payment of £1,771, comprising two fines of £333 and £666, £240 in court costs and £532 in victim surcharges, and added seven penalty points to his licence.
Background and Prior Record
Hammond co-hosted the BBC’s *Top Gear* from 2002 to 2015. He previously received a three-month driving ban in France in 2013 after a speeding incident while filming the programme. Police also note an alleged driving offence from August of the previous year, though that charge was later withdrawn.
Court Proceedings and Official Response
The court heard that West Mercia Police initially sent speeding notices to a Grade II-listed Herefordshire castle purchased by Hammond in 2012 and to a £1 million farm estate near Hereford; both letters were returned marked “addressee gone away.” Investigators later located Hammond at his £2 million home near Abergavenny, Wales, where more than 30 vehicles are currently registered. Two additional charges—ignoring police letters and failing to identify himself as the driver—were withdrawn after Hammond’s solicitor submitted a letter stating he had identified himself and posted the reply himself.
Data and Statistics
- Speed recordings: 68 mph (50 mph limit) and 82 mph (70 mph limit).
- Financial penalties: £1,771 total (£333 + £666 fines, £240 costs, £532 surcharges).
- Licence impact: 7 penalty points.
- Property linked to the case: a Grade II-listed castle, a £1 million farm estate, and a £2 million residence with over 30 registered vehicles.
The case underscores the court’s willingness to impose substantial financial and licence penalties for repeated speeding, even when the driver holds a high public profile.
