Rock star avoids driving ban (From Daily Echo)

Squeeze singer Chris Difford spared driving ban after speeding on A31

12:30pm Wednesday 8th February 2012 in News By Jon Reeve, Education Reporter

Chris Difford.

A ROCK star who earns up to £100,000 a year has avoided a driving ban after pleading “exceptional hardship” to magistrates.

Chris Difford, whose band Squeeze had hits including Up The Junction and Cool for Cats in the 1970s and 80s, was caught on camera doing 88mph on the A31 through the New Forest.

Despite already having nine points on his licence at the time, he has been cleared to keep driving by Southampton JPs, who heard a ban from getting behind the wheel would effectively end his “business” as a solo performer.

The 57-year-old singer and guitarist, who performed at The Railway in Winchester last weekend, said he earns around 80 per cent of his income from live shows.

S o u t h a m p t o n Magistrates’ Court was also told Difford would also be unable to carry out his “extensive” voluntary charity work around the country, helping recovering alcoholics and drug addicts, as well as working with teenage cancer sufferers.

Difford, whose former Squeeze bandmates include Jools Holland, Glenn Tilbrook and Paul Carrack, said he couldn’t take his music equipment on public transport, and cannot afford a chauffeur.

He said he doesn’t “get to enjoy” much of his money because his outgoings, including £30,000-a-year school fees for his 16-year-old daughter, are virtually the same as his income.

He said: “There are so many spokes to what I do, and a fair amount of them would fold. Probably the ones that make the most money.

“I don’t think I can make any further cutbacks.”

Difford, from Dulwich, south London, said he was caught speeding near Ringwood last August while on his way to Dorset with his partner, who had just been told her ex-husband had died suddenly in France, while he was looking after their three young children.

He said: “There wasn’t a particularly huge amount of consideration at the time – it was quite stressful.”

Magistrates’ chairman Ann Press said the speeding offence was “obviously a serious matter”, but accepted the impact of a driving ban would be huge on Difford’s family, and especially his ability to support his stepchildren “at a sensitive time in their lives”.

“But you cannot use this excuse again in court,” she told him.

Difford was fined £350, ordered to pay £85 costs and a £15 victim surcharge, and given three penalty points.