David Morrissey, best known for roles in The Walking Dead and Sherwood, has been disqualified from driving for six months after being convicted of three speeding offences committed within a single week. The 61-year-old was fined £5,700 at Willesden Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, which he did not attend.
The court heard that Morrissey was driving his black Mini Countryman at 46mph in a 40mph zone on the A406 in north-west London on 2 August 2024. Two days later, on 4 and 5 August, he was caught travelling at 55mph and 48mph respectively in 40mph zones on the A40 near Greenford.
Morrissey already had nine penalty points on his licence and was handed a further nine, triggering an automatic six-month ban under the totting-up procedure. He had previously denied the allegations but was found guilty of three charges of excessive speeding.
Prosecutor Maya Arputham said Morrissey should pay the full £1,500 costs for the trial. His defence counsel, Conall Bailie, argued the amount was significant given the trial lasted less than three hours. However, District Judge Jack Walsh ruled the sum “eminently reasonable”, adding that Morrissey had put forward an “entirely illegitimate” case and forced the prosecution to prove it in detail.
Morrissey is celebrated for his portrayal of Gordon Brown in The Deal and Stephen Collins in State of Play, and appeared as The Governor in three seasons of The Walking Dead. He has also received BAFTA and Royal Television Society nominations and an honorary doctorate from Edge Hill University. The actor separated from his wife, Esther Freud, in 2020 after 14 years of marriage.
