A FOOTBALLER who claimed he did not know he needed insurance to drive was told by a magistrate to “grow up”.
Bristol Rovers midfielder Clinton Mola, 25, was stopped in his Audi SQ8 in Southwark, South London, in November.
He said most of his previous driving had been with cars provided and insured by sponsors.
Mola, already serving a two-year ban, was banned for three more.
The midfielder, who progressed through Chelsea’s academy, also claimed he was he was unaware he had been previously banned.
Westminster JP Jeffrey Manson said: “’You were driving four months into a 24 month ban.
“Whether you knew about it or not that’s a short period within the ban.
“You are a role model for people, you can’t just say I’m too busy I didn’t know about it. That just is not an excuse.
“Really, you need to start to grow up, you have a child now, people look up to you for what you do.
“It’s really important that you take this message home today.
“Driving whilst disqualificied is a very serious offence for which we regularly send people to prison.”
“The magistrate added: “In the nicest possible way we hope never to see you again — except on television.”
