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Former England international Andy Carroll has been spared a driving ban after being caught filming an anti-immigration protest from behind the wheel.
As reported by the Sun, Carroll admitted the offence of using his mobile phone while driving.
Chelmsford magistrates gave Carroll six penalty points, taking his overall total to 16, while the footballer is required to pay a £1,052 fine and costs.
Carroll, 36, already had 10 points on his licence following three speeding offences between 2022 and 2024.
Having 12 or more penalty points over a three-year period typically leads to a six-month driving ban.
Carroll was spared a ban due to 'exceptional hardship', due to needing to take a family member to hospital for medical treatment.
Andy Carroll was spared a driving ban after racking up 16 points on his licence, after he admitted to using his phone while driving
Carroll had been caught using his phone to film a anti-immigration protest outside the Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex (Pictured in August)
The Bell Hotel has been the subject of months of anti-immigration protests
The former Newcastle and West Ham forward had reportedly used his phone to film a protestors at the Bell Hotel in Epping back in June.
The hotel in Essex has been the subject of months of anti-immigration protests, sparked by the sexual assault of a 14-year-old girl and a woman by one of its residents.
Ethiopian Hadush Kebatu, 41, was found guilty and jailed for multiple counts of sexual assault before being mistakenly released, re-arrested and finally deported.
Police had reportedly been directing traffic around a shut road, when they had spotted Carroll filming the demonstration on his phone.
Carroll's lawyer said the footballer had filmed the demonstration to show his friend why he was late for a meeting, stating there had been 'hundreds, if not thousands, of people around'.
Jeremy Batchelor, chairman of the bench, warned Carroll after he was spared a ban.
'You need to be very, very careful indeed. Keep that mobile phone well away from your hand, watch your speed,' Batchelor said, as per the Sun.
Carroll, who earned nine England caps during his career, is currently playing for non-league side Dagenham and Redbridge.
The striker joined the National League South side in the summer, after returning to England following spells at French clubs Amiens and Bordeaux.
Daily Mail Sport has contacted Carroll's representatives for comment.
