EASTENDERS star Jamie Borthwick had his driving ban slashed after saying he is too FAMOUS to catch the bus.
The 27-year-old, who plays cheeky chappy Jay Brown, was caught speeding in his Mercedes in Romford in May last year.
After zooming down a 30mph road at 52mph, he hit the maximum 12 penalty points after previously landing another speeding fine.
Jamie was banned from driving for six months back in December and was fined £660, and a further £166 in court costs.
But his six-month ban has now been reduced to just two as his solicitor argued he is constantly “recognised” on public transport.
Jamie has been forking out for private vehicles for the 72-mile round trip between his home and the BBC soap’s set.
The actor, who joined Eastenders in 2006 aged 12, lives in East London and while the soap is filmed in Borehamwood, Herts.
Appealing his sentence on Thursday, his legal team said he “has issues with public transport and being recognised”, adding, “not all of those encounters have been favourable.”
Alex Owen, representing, explained he needs his car because he ferries his great aunt and uncle who are “like grandparents to him” to hospital appointments.
She said: “The circumstances of this offence are the road is a dual carriageway which isn’t signposted at 30mph limit but of course the presence of street lights indicates that.
“He was unaware of that at the time, he was wrongly under the impression it was a 50mph limit.
“It took place in the mid-afternoon and it was relatively quiet at the time. No danger was caused.”
She explained Jamie had sustained “considerable costs” by paying for transport to and from the BBC studio.
“Having spoken to him this morning he tells me both his great uncle and great uncle’s wife – the closest thing he has to grandparents – are both ill.
“In those circumstances because of his flexible working hours he’s the best person and available person to take them to appointments.
“Mr Borthwick does attend a number of charitable appearances.
“For the most part he’s responsible for his own travel to and from those appearances and as he is not able to drive he is not able to do those.
“He has issues with public transport and being recognised and not all of those encounters have been favourable.”
Jamie’s solicitor argued magistrates could have instead given him five penalty points on his licence, allowing him to just keep under the maximum number of point.
She also suggested they could have used discretionary powers to give Jamie a 56-day ban instead of the six points.
Granting the appeal, Recorder Mr Richard Thomas said: “The effect of the imposition of the six penalty points was that he had 12 points on his licence.
“He had two previous convictions, one from 2018 which was three points and another from July 2021 which post-dated the incident but was on his licence by the time of conviction and sentence.
“What he asks us to is exercise our discretion, taking into account mitigation and either impose five points or disqualify him up to 56 days.
“With some degree of ambivalence and having carefully thought about it we are just about prepared to replace his points with a disqualification of 56 days.
“And so the sentence will be exactly the same as in the magistrates court except the sentence of six points will be amended to disqualification of 56 days.”
He then quipped: “Mr Borthwick, stop speeding”, to which Jamie nodded.
The 27-year-old was pictured grinning as he left Croydon Nightingale Court on Thursday.
