Serena Stregapede, a fashion model, recently avoided a driving ban after getting caught behind the wheel of her Olympian boyfriend’s £80,000 Porsche without insurance.
The incident occurred on March 16 when police stopped Stregapede while she was driving the Taycan Sport Turismo on the M56 near Stretton, Cheshire.
The 37-year-old, who was on her way to a business conference in Birmingham, explained that she had only taken over the wheel after her partner, former Olympic boxer Anthony Fowler, became unwell and needed to stop.
The Reason Behind the Incident
According to Stregapede, Fowler, 33, a former Olympic boxer and Commonwealth Games gold medalist, had been fasting that morning before the drive.
He suddenly felt unwell and pulled over to the hard shoulder.
At that point, Stregapede took control of the car, planning to drive it to the next service station.
She insisted that neither she nor Fowler were aware she wasn’t insured to drive the vehicle, believing that the insurance situation had been sorted out between them.
The Legal Proceedings
When Stregapede was pulled over, the police discovered she was not listed on the Porsche’s insurance policy.
A check also revealed that she already had six points on her license for using a mobile phone while driving her own car.
At Chester Magistrates’ Court, Stregapede was found guilty of driving without insurance.
She received another six penalty points, bringing her total to twelve, but was spared a driving ban due to exceptional circumstances.
Exceptional Hardship Consideration
Stregapede explained that a driving ban would cause significant hardship in her life, particularly as she has three young children, one of whom is seriously ill.
Her two-year-old daughter has bone cancer and requires frequent hospital visits in Liverpool, Harrogate, and London.
Stregapede also cares for her autistic son, who needs regular hospital trips.
The court recognized these challenges and allowed her to continue driving, with the understanding that she must avoid further offenses.
The Impact on Her Career
As a social media manager for Fowler’s health and wellness company, Stregapede travels frequently for her job.
She highlighted that losing her driving privileges would likely cost her job, as her role requires her to travel across the country to interview celebrities and attend events.
Stregapede further emphasized the chaos in her daily life, juggling her children’s medical needs, her career, and household responsibilities.
The Verdict
In the end, Stregapede was fined £724 and ordered to pay £910 in costs and a victim surcharge.
The court acknowledged the exceptional hardship she faced and decided to let her keep her driving license for the time being.
However, the judge, JP Charles Platt, warned that if she were to accumulate more points, she would not be able to use the same excuse again.
Stregapede was reminded to drive cautiously and be aware of the consequences of any future infractions.
Fowler, known for his achievements in boxing, also works as the director of Supreme CBD, a company he founded in 2019.
The company specializes in cannabidiol (CBD) oil, which is used for medicinal purposes.
This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!
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