STAR'S TEARS
S Club star Rachel Stevens tells court of PTSD over violent mugging as she loses licence after racking up 21 points
Singer also witnessed gangland shooting as she ate with family
S CLUB star Rachel Stevens tearfully told a court how she suffers PTSD following a violent mugging in a failed bid to dodge a driving ban.
The singer, 45, said she was left "absolutely terrified" by the horror attack at her North London home 15 years ago.
5
5
She also wept as she told magistrates how just weeks later, she was caught up in another terrifying incident when a gunman opened fire in a suspected gangland shooting while she dined at a restaurant.
Rachel revealed she still suffers from PTSD and fears being alone in cars with strangers as she attempted to save her licence - despite racking up 21 points for speeding since 2019.
But her emotional plea was rejected by magistrates, who imposed a six month ban plus fines and fees totalling £2,900, the reports.
Rachel was told to hire a driver as she also claimed the ban would impact on her upcoming S Club tour and cause school run difficulties.
Read more ON RACHEL STEVENS
She said: "I've absolutely learned my lesson, without a doubt."
Rachel was ambushed at her home in 2009 when she was grabbed around the neck by a robber.
At the time, police believed the Strictly Come Dancing star had been deliberately targeted as she returned from a shopping trip.
She told Willsden Magistrates' Court: "I was attacked in my flat. A man jumped into my front door. He had his hand around my mouth and his arm around my neck.”
Most read in Showbiz
Just weeks later, Rachel was enjoying a meal with her family at a restaurant in St John's Wood when a gunman stormed in.
She was forced to shelter under a table as he opened fire - leaving her "incredibly terrified".
The star added: "The two incidents that happened so close together definitely caused a lot of post-traumatic stress.
"After that, I felt scared to even leave my house, get out of my car and I was just very fearful."
As a result, Rachel said she does not take taxis on her own and hasn't used the Tube in years due to her anxiety.
She also claimed a driving ban would cause “exceptional hardship” as she spoke about the breakdown of her 12-year marriage to childhood sweetheart Alex Bourne.
Rachel said the last year had been an "upheaval" for her two daughters and urged the court to spare her licence so she could continue the school run.
The star was pulled over in September last year after driving her BMW X3 series at 41mph through a 20mph zone in Regent's Park.
At the time, she already had nine points on her licence from previous offences.
Two months later, on November 7 last year, she was pulled over again on the same stretch of road while driving at 42mph.
JPs told Rachel she had been driving at an "exceptionally dangerous speed" when pedestrians and cyclists were around.
Read More on The Sun
The panel concluded: “We find in your circumstances you have not demonstrated exceptional hardship and you could consider hiring a driver for this period of disqualification, to assist you on the school run and with commitments where a driver is not supplied.”
Rachel, who tragically lost bandmate Paul Cattermole this year, was ordered to surrender her driving licence, pay £2,000 in fines plus an £800 victim surcharge and £100 in costs.
5
5
5
Topics