EastEnders star Steve McFadden has been ordered to pay almost £600 by a court after he was caught speeding on his Vespa moped through Hampstead.
The actor, 62, who plays Phil Mitchell in the BBC soap, was stopped by police when he had been spotted driving at 35mph in a 20mph zone on October 7 last year.
“I was stationary on Fitzjohns Avenue at the junction with Nutley Terrace when I saw a blue Piaggio Vespa travelling along”, said PC Jonathan Steinhof, who stopped McFadden just before midday.
“The vehicle was overtaking other vehicles that appeared to be doing the speed limit.
“There is a video evidence relating to this incident.”
At Bromley magistrates court, McFadden was fined £440, ordered to pay £100 in costs and a £44 victim surcharge, and he now has five penalty points on his licence.
The actor pleaded guilty to the charge in writing and did not have to appear in open court.
His case was dealt with behind-closed-doors a week ago, with details of the conviction and penalty now disclosed by the court.
PC Steinhof said in his written statement that McFadden was shown the speed gun dial displaying 35mph while he was detained for ten minutes at the roadside.
McFadden did not comment when told he would be prosecuted.
He has been regularly photographed driving around north London on his scooter, and has played hard man Phil Mitchell since his introduction into EastEnders in 1990.
His prosecution was conducted through the Single Justice Procedure, which allows courts to deal with low-level offences away from open court.
The Evening Standard obtained copies of the prosecution evidence against the star, but was not shown McFadden’s written guilty plea.
