Bestselling author Lynda La Plante has been banned from driving for six months despite emotionally expressing to the court that a ban would jeopardize her writing career. The 83-year-old author and screenwriter shared with Lavender Hill Magistrates’ Court that her car is crucial for meeting criminals and sources for her upcoming fiction projects. She also mentioned that losing her driving privileges would prevent her from taking her guard dog, Theo, for walks in Roehampton playing fields, which would ultimately lead to her ceasing writing altogether.
La Plante, who is renowned for creating the iconic character DCI Jane Tennison in Prime Suspect, admitted to breaking the 20mph speed limit near her residence in Kingston-upon-Thames on five occasions between November 2025 and April this year. Her plea was made on Monday, acknowledging her previous speeding offenses which already resulted in nine points on her license.
Despite her lawyer, Nick Freeman, arguing for leniency by highlighting the importance of driving in La Plante’s life, the magistrates decided to impose a six-month ban and fines totaling £3,330 due to her accumulating points. La Plante tearfully expressed in court that a driving ban would lead her to shut down her writing company, affecting the employment of four staff members. However, the court found her reasoning insufficient to prove “exceptional hardship” from disqualification.
In her testimony, La Plante shared the significance of her dog Theo in helping her cope with the loss of her previous dog, Hugo. She emphasized the emotional support Theo provides and how driving him to training sessions and walks is an integral part of her routine. Additionally, she highlighted the necessity of driving for her writing career, particularly for conducting research interviews with various individuals, including criminals, in different locations.
Prior to her court appearance, La Plante raised concerns about misleading road signs in Kingston-upon-Thames, suggesting that her speeding violations may have been unintentional while she focused on safe driving. Despite her contributions to literature and drama, including creating popular TV series like Widows and Prime Suspect, La Plante faced legal consequences for her repeated speeding offenses, leading to a temporary driving ban and financial penalties.