Garth Crooks was a Spurs hero in the 1980s and also played for West Bromwich Albion, before pontificating on the BBC

A FOOTBALL pundit has been banned from driving for six months after being snared driving 24 miles per hour in a 20mph zone.

Garth Crooks, the former Spurs and West Brom forward who went on to have a successful career sharing his illuminating thoughts on the BBC, had asked for a “little latitude” to be applied when he appeared in court to face the music last week.

The 67-year-old said the 20mph speed limit sign in Camden Road earlier this year was obscured to drivers by two poles and provided photographs of the scene.

He had been behind the wheel of his Mercedes when he was snapped by a speed camera near Hillmarton Road, Holloway, breaking the rules.

The whole of Islington has a 20mph restriction, while roads managed by Transport for London often follow suit.

Crooksy, as he’s known in the game by some fellow retired footballers, was granted an OBE in 1999 for services to sport. He had represented himself at Lavender Hill Magistrates’ Court and told justices: “I have come here today to admit my guilt of driving at 24 miles per hour in a 20 mile an hour zone.”

But there was to be no escape from the proverbial relegation zone and a drop to the passengers seat.

He was told that he was being shown a red card from the roads for half a year after it was revealed he already had nine penalty points on his driving licence.

Mr Crooks had partly been racked up them with two other speeding offences.

Nearly all drivers who hit a 12-point threshold face a mandatory disqualification.