Jermaine Pennant avoids driving ban after insurance blunder

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 12 Oct, 16:07 · Archive

Former Arsenal and Liverpool player Jermaine Pennant has avoided a driving ban after driving without insurance on the A406 in September 2025.

Jermaine Pennant, the 43-year-old former winger, appeared before Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court on Monday after being stopped by police on 2 September 2025. Body-worn camera footage showed him purchasing insurance on his phone while in his car. He has now been handed a six-month conditional discharge and avoided a driving ban after a judge ruled he had special reasons not to be disqualified.

Pennant told the court that his insurance cover had expired the day before the incident. He said he had been shopping around for a new policy when his partner, who had injured her foot, called to ask him to drive her home. He purchased one-day insurance 10 minutes before being pulled over but was not aware it would not take effect immediately.

Pennant said that the next day his partner's foot had swollen significantly and they took her to hospital, where doctors confirmed she had broken her foot and three toes. The TalkSport host said he had 'messed up by 10 minutes' but acknowledged that 'rules are rules'. The incident comes more than 20 years after Pennant served a one-month prison sentence for a drink-driving conviction in 2005, when he became the first Premier League footballer to play a match wearing an electronic tag.

How it is being reported

• Former Arsenal and Liverpool footballer Jermaine Pennant swerves ban after driving without insuranceFormer Arsenal player Jermaine Pennant was handed a six-month conditional discharge after a judge found he had special reasons as to why he should not be disqualified from driving.Daily Mail · 12 Oct, 15:50
• Former Arsenal star Jermaine Pennant in court after car insurance blunderThe 43-year-old says he ‘messed up by 10 minutes’ but ‘rules are rules’Independent Sport · 12 Oct, 13:21

In this story: Jermaine Pennant · Arsenal · Liverpool · A406 · Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court · Birmingham City · TalkSport

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem