Video: Comedian Roy ‘Chubby’ Brown fined for reading newspaper while driving

The 69-year-old, whose real name is Royston Vasey, was captured by North Yorkshire Police’s mobile safety camera with the newspaper held in front of his steering wheel as he drove along the A19 south-bound near Crathorne on 15 May 2014.

The comedian, from East Harlsey near Northallerton, was fined £30 for driving without due care and attention at Northallerton Magistrates’ Court yesterday and received four points on his licence.

He was also ordered to pay costs of £40 and a victim surcharge of £20. He pleaded guilty by post and did not appear in court yesterday.

Dave Brown, North Yorkshire Police’s mobile safety camera manager, said: “This is another case where our mobile safety cameras have proved that they are not just about speed, demonstrating that we have the technology to capture all manner of offences which put road users at risk.

“Motorists must give the road their full attention as a few seconds’ lapse in concentration can have catastrophic consequences, literally meaning the difference between life and death.”

Royston Vasey was born in Grangetown, near Middlesbrough. His birth name is the name of the fictional village where comedy The League of Gentlemen is set.