2-tier motoring rules make me scared stiff

SURPRISE, surprise: the morally outraged, having yet again grasped the stick’s wrong end, are out dishing vitriol and rage over the plight of Colin Salmon — he of bit-part Bond outings and appearances on EastEnders and Prime Suspect.

- Carole Malone is away

Contrary to the consensus, the actor did not land in court for the arguably minor misdemeanour of driving at 24mph in a 20mph zone. He was hauled before the beak on an accumulation of offences that had racked up his penalty points and was on the verge of being disqualified.

He was there to plead: that as his family’s sole breadwinner, his lung-diseased wife and pre viously cancer stricken daughter depend on him, and that he has to drive to work assignments and hospital appointments because, having recently had a hip replacement, the 64-year-old would struggle on public transport.