Four speeding offences see Suffolk billionaire Jonathan Hunt banned from driving

Jon Hunt, owner of Foxtons estate agency (Image: Archant)

Billionaire Jonathan Hunt, who owns Heveningham Hall near Halesworth, already had nine points on his licence for speeding previously when he committed the first two offences, a court heard.

The 63-year-old, who lives in Kensington Palace Gardens – London’s most expensive street, pleaded guilty to all four offences at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court yesterday.

The property magnate was caught driving his Mercedes S65 at 87.91 mph on the 70mph limit Colchester-bound A12 at Kelvedon at 7.46am on August 30 last year.

He also drove the Mercedes at 80.75mph on the A12 Chelmsford-bound carriageway at Kelvedon just before 7pm on November 17.

The same car was clocked travelling at 85mph on the stretch of the A12 between Stratford St Mary and East Bergholt at 7.05am on February 20.

The first in the series of offences occurred in West Kensington on June 17 last year when Hunt’s Ferrari was caught doing 45mph in a 30mph zone at around 5am.

The court asked if Hunt had filled in a means form so it could assess the level of fine based on earnings.

However, it was told it was difficult for a man who has a number of different business interests to fill in a form of that nature.

James Hartley, representing Hunt, told the two magistrates: “Mr Hunt is a successful and, I have to say, wealthy businessman. He’s in a position to pay whatever fine you decide.”

He added the maximum fine which could be imposed was £1,000 for each offence. Mr Hartley continued: “Mr Hunt at the time of the first two offences had nine points on his licence and I think each of those were for speeding.

“The first set of three points dropped off in September 2015, so when he committed November and February’s offences he had six points on his licence.

“Whilst he might suffer hardship (if a ban was imposed) we don’t feel it falls within the realms of exceptional hardship. We are accepting disqualification.

“Mr Hunt has re-evaluated not just his driving, but the pace at which he lives his life since these matters have arisen.”

Referring to the first speeding offence in West Kensington Mr Hartley said Hunt was on his way to a meeting in Cardiff and accepted he was travelling at 45mph in a 30mph limit.

The court was told all the offences related to speed camera activations. Mr Hartley said: “He has accepted full responsibility.

“He drives high annual mileage – he estimates about 50,000 miles per annum, both in the UK and abroad.”

Although Hunt is based in London most days, magistrates were also told he travels frequently.

Mr Hartley said: “He’s involved in property and has various sites in London and the south-east, and other areas of the country.

“He’s very much involved in the running of his own successful business. He’s very much a self-made man. His main company has 150 employees.

“A lot of people depend on Mr Hunt for their livelihood.”

The court heard Hunt is currently involved in research abroad, visiting a total of 98 cities mostly in Asia.

Mr Hartley told magistrates there would be major complications for Hunt because he would need a driving licence to obtain a permit to drive in other countries.

Hunt – a father-of-four- has two adult sons who are both involved in motor sport and he drives a support vehicle to assist them.

Mr Hartley concluded: “He’s a person who enjoys motoring.

“In my submission you can punish him quite appropriately financially for these matters.

“In terms of a disqualification I would submit six months will be a very hard punishment for him.”

However, magistrates endorsed Hunt’s licence with a total of 15 penalty points and said in view of his driving record they would ban him from the road for nine months.

He must also pay £3,056 in fines, costs and a contribution to the victims’ fund.

Jonathan Hunt was East Anglia’s only male billionaire when the Sunday Times Rich List was published in April this year.

He was said to be worth £1.25bn, a rise of £64m on 2015.

Born in Colchester, Hunt sold his upmarket estate agency chain Foxtons for £375m at the height of the property boom.

Hunt and his wife Lois bought Grade 1 Listed Heveningham Hall in 1994.

The car collector also has a home in the ultra rich Kensington Palace Gardens

His career began when he was loaned £100 at the age of 19 for a one-bedroom conversion in Surrey.

The wealthiest person in the region was Kirsten Rausing, of Newmarket, and her family with a wealth of £8.7bn.