Peaky Blinders actor Joe Cole has pleaded guilty to a speeding offence after being caught driving at 24mph in a 20mph zone near Wandsworth Common, south London, in May this year, court documents show.
The 37-year-old, known for playing John Shelby in the hit drama series and for roles in Black Mirror and Gangs of London, was behind the wheel of a BMW 1 Series when the offence occurred. He admitted the offence through the single justice procedure, with court documents indicating he would not attend court.
Star's written statement
In written submissions, Cole, who lives in Kingston-upon-Thames, said: "I am an actor and have been abroad for the last few months. I have not received relevant documentation for me to pay the fine for this offence."
The case will now be handed to a magistrate to decide what penalty he will receive.
Road safety context
Earlier this year, the Government unveiled a fresh road safety strategy targeting a reduction in fatalities and serious injuries on Britain's roads by 65% by 2035. The strategy included plans for a new edition of best practice guidance on setting local speed limits, hinting at potential changes to the default 30mph limit on urban roads.
A poll by insurance comparison specialists Quotezone.co.uk found that 66% of participants were against downgrading key 30mph roads to 20mph.
Career and departure from Peaky Blinders
Cole, a key character across four seasons of Peaky Blinders, revealed his reason for leaving the show in 2017, saying: "With Peaky Blinders I never really got out of the gates in that role. It’s Cillian’s show really. This show [Gangs of London] is more ensemble, it follows characters on a deep level."
He added to Metro: "I’ve spent the last few years turning down gang related shows because when a show does well you get offered quite a lot of them. I actually chose to leave Peaky Blinders because I wanted to explore new avenues, and new characters and new stories."
In a separate interview with Radio Times, he said: "In society we're told to play by the rules and live your life in a certain way. For me, it was a no-brainer. I was missing out on some stuff, and I felt like I had exhausted this character."
Cole also made a major impact as titular gangster Sean Wallace in Gangs of London. He said: "People used to come up to me and go, 'You're that bloke from Peaky Blinders,' but I'm thinking, 'My best work is in other stuff.' There's more to me than this."
Peaky Blinders was inspired by a real-life gang that operated in Birmingham, England, after World War I. A feature-length film, The Immortal Man, is in development.
