Jim Davidson represents himself at court to persuade a judge to cut …

• Jim Davidson, 69, represented himself as his solicitor was 'stuck in another trial'

Comedian Jim Davidson has persuaded a judge to cut his 12 month driving ban in half for being caught speeding after representing himself in court.

The comic, 69, was caught travelling at 36mph in a 30mph zone in his Mercedes in March last year on Maybray King Way, in Southampton, by one of the busiest speed cameras in the country.

Davidson, who lives in the Hampshire market town of Stockbridge, was handed a 12-month driving ban and three penalty points alongside a £333 fine at Aldershot Magistrates' Court earlier this year.

But, today at Southampton Crown Court, with his barrister otherwise engaged, Davidson represented himself at an appeal hearing - resulting in his driving ban halved. 

He later joked he had to leave his car outside the court and walk two miles in the 'blistering heat' to the pub, where he celebrated by 'downing three pints of lager'. 

Comedian Jim Davidson (pictured outside Southampton Crown Court) has persuaded a judge to cut his 12 month driving ban

A celebratory statement on his website after the legal victory said: 'Jim represented himself in court as his barrister was stuck in another trial and the court refused to adjourn the hearing.

'Judge Peter Henry praised Jim for his presentation and accepted that there was some exceptional hardship but not enough to overturn the ban completely.

'Following the decision, Jim had to leave his car outside the court and walk two miles in blistering heat…and is now downing his third pint of lager.'

Mr Davidson was clocked by a speed camera on Maybray King Way, thought to be one of the country's busiest after it was triggered an average of 70 times a day from 2015 to 2017. 

Jim Davidson is a celebrated British stand-up comedian who has made appearances on game shows including the Generation Game and Big Break.

The father-of-five has also starred in the sitcoms Up The Elephant And Around The Castle and Home James as well as having his own one-man show on ITV, Stand Up Jim Davidson.