Ferrari crash driver keeps licence despite having 13 points

Joey Baptiste pleaded guilty to driving a Ferrari F430 without due care and attention <i>(Image: Newsquest/Submitted)</i>
Joey Baptiste pleaded guilty to driving a Ferrari F430 without due care and attention (Image: Newsquest/Submitted)
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A Ferrari driver who crashed while "showing off" has kept his licence, despite being told his actions could have “killed someone”. 

Joey Baptiste, 41, was at the wheel of his friend’s £100,000 Ferrari F430 when he lost control on Rose Lane in the centre of Norwich. 

The supercar mounted the pavement and smashed into a cycle rack, narrowly missing a passing jogger, before veering back across the road.

He faced losing his licence when he appeared at Norwich Magistrates’ Court having previously pleaded guilty to careless driving. 

READ MORE: Ferrari driver was 'revving' engine 'showing off' before crash

He already had four points on his licence, for a separate speeding offence. However, despite being given a further nine points, he narrowly avoided a ban.

Joey Baptiste successfully pleaded exceptional circumstances to avoid driving banJoey Baptiste successfully pleaded exceptional circumstances to avoid a driving ban (Image: Newsquest)

Drivers who accumulate 12 points normally face a "totting up ban", unless they can prove exceptional hardship.

Magistrates accepted the construction machinery driver needed to be able to drive for his job and family responsibilities.

But they warned him: “To put it bluntly, you have to drive like a saint from now on. One fixed penalty and you’ll now definitely lose your licence.”

CCTV captured moment Ferrari was crashed into bike racks on Rose LaneCCTV captured the moment a Ferrari crashed into bike racks on Rose Lane (Image: Submitted) Firefighters deal with aftermath of the crash in March 2024Firefighters deal with aftermath of the crash in March 2024 (Image: Newsquest)

Rachel Buck, mitigating, had argued his family and young children relied on Baptiste, of Catkin Close in Cringleford, being able to drive.

The court also heard from his employer that it would be “very difficult” to replace his key role on a construction site at Great Ellingham. 

READ MORE: Dragons Den winner Ross Mendham sees his £100k Ferrari written-off

Sally Harris, prosecuting, said witnesses to the crash on March 17 last year had described hearing the Ferrari revving loudly at traffic lights, with one saying its driver was “showing off and that it was unnecessary”.

The Ferrari belonged to former Dragon's Den contestant Ross Mendham who was a passenger at the timeThe Ferrari belonged to former Dragon's Den contestant Ross Mendham who was a passenger at the time (Image: Instagram)

Ms Buck said the car, which belonged to former Dragon's Den contestant Ross Mendham, was powerful, with a loud V8 litre engine so it “may appear you are driving obnoxiously or aggressively”.

There was no evidence that he had been speeding at the time, she added.

Magistrates also fined Baptiste £583 and ordered him to pay costs totalling £583, telling him: "It was very fortunate no-one was killed or seriously injured."

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