Archbishop of Canterbury fined for overspeeding in London

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Most Reverend Justin Welby, has been fined more than £500 and given three penalty points after he was caught speeding in London, the United Kingdom.

This comes barely a few days after the Archbishop of Canterbury anointed King Charles III as King of England.

Welby was recorded driving at 25mph in a 20mph zone in his Volkswagen Golf last year.

The 67-year-old had been going along the Albert Embankment towards his official residence at Lambeth Palace.

According to BBC, he admitted the offence in writing and was sentenced at a private magistrates’ court hearing.

The archbishop, who was caught by a speed camera on October 2, 2022, was prosecuted through the single justice procedure – a method that allows courts to deal with cases without the defendant having to go to a hearing.

He pleaded guilty online on Wednesday, the same day he appeared at the House of Lords to condemn the government’s Illegal Migration Bill.

Lavender Hill Magistrates’ Court ordered Welby to pay a £300 fine, a £120 victim surcharge, and £90 in legal costs, as well as adding the penalty points to his driving licence.

A spokesperson for Lambeth Palace said the archbishop had been unaware the case might be dealt with in court.

The spokesperson said: “He has tried to resolve this and pay the fine three times. He has all the paperwork to prove that he has tried to pay.

“Admin errors seem to be causing problems.”

The Star