Wednesday 3 August 2022 09:48 AM Actress Phina Oruche avoids speeding ban in Liverpool to drive her son to ... trends now

An actress who starred in Hollyoaks and Footballers' Wives avoided being disqualified from driving so she could drive her 'gifted athlete' son to football practice. 

Phina Oruche, 52, was caught driving her blue Fiat 500 at 36mph and 37mph in a 30mph zone in south Liverpool at the start of the year. 

The single mother told Wirral Magistrates Court she needs the car to drive her 14-year-old son to League two club Crewe Alexandra's training ground in Cheshire - where he landed a two-year contract - 38 miles away from their family home in Liverpool.  

Oruche admitted speeding and was given a £30 fine and £134 in costs and victim surcharge - but JPs accepted she would suffer 'exceptional hardship' if banned and allowed her to continue driving. 

The TV star, who played Gabby Sharpe in Channel 4's Hollyoaks and supermodel Liberty Baker in ITV's drama series Footballers' Wives, said: 'He would probably have to drop out if I was disqualified. 

'He would flatline. He wants to be the next Cristiano Ronaldo. 

'I have worked really hard to keep him focused and his passion is working out for him. It would seem a harsh step if he had to lose that.' 

She said she didn't want to see her son 'punished' on her behalf and that, at 14, she thinks he is too young to get the train. 

Oruche already had nine points on her licence when she was caught speeding on Garston Way, Dock Road, south Liverpool on January 14 and then February 27 of this year.

She faced disqualification under the totting up procedure, after being caught by a speed camera.  

The actress, who is also a children's author and anti-racism campaigner, claimed she believed she was driving in a 40mph zone.