Former One Direction star could face driving ban after admitting speeding

Former One Direction star Liam Payne could face a driving ban after admitting a speeding offence.

The singer was reportedly travelling at 43mph in a 30mph zone on the A40 Westway flyover in Shepherd’s Bush, west London, in a Ford Ranger pick-up truck on February 24.

A Lavender Hill Magistrates’ Court spokesman said the 30-year-old pleaded guilty to the offence and the court is considering whether to impose a driving ban ahead of his sentencing on October 9.

The Evening Standard newspaper reported that Payne wrote to the court to apologise, saying: “I did not realise the speed limit and apologise for speeding.”

The newspaper printed a further part of his letter that appeared to reference a request for his financial status, which said: “I am self employed and cannot provide the information at this stage.

“However, I will pay any fine imposed within 14 days.”

In August, he postponed his scheduled tour of South America after suffering from a “serious kidney infection”.

Payne said the infection was something “I wouldn’t wish on anyone” and had been instructed by doctors to “rest and recover”.

He was part of the original line-up of the boy band, formed in 2010, alongside Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan and Harry Styles.

Payne, of Chalfont St Giles, Buckinghamshire, is not due to attend court for his sentencing hearing as it is being dealt with through the Single Justice Procedure – which allows the court to deal with case based on written evidence alone.