Government minister caught on his phone
- Liam Byrne pleads guilty in court
- Fined £100 plus £35 costs; given three points
- Second high-profile official to offend this week
The Government's immigration minister, Liam Byrne, has been fined and had points put on his licence after admitting using his mobile phone while driving.
Byrne, who has been a Home Office minister since 2006, was fined £100, ordered to pay £35 costs and given three points on his licence by Sutton Coldfield Magistrates' Court.
Byrne, 37, pleaded guilty by letter, saying he had been taking an important call on a deportation matter, but admitting he was wrong to do so.
Driving while using a hand-held mobile phone was banned in 2003 and the law toughened in February 2007, when the minimum fine was raised from £30 to £60 in addition to three penalty points.
Byrne's conviction is the second embarrassing motoring incident to befall a high-profile official this week.
On Tuesday, it was revealed that the policeman in charge of Britain's road policies, Chief Constable Meredydd Hughes, is facing prosecution for speeding.
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