Duke of Rutland banned from driving after receiving 24 points on license

One of Britain's richest aristocrats caught exceeding limit on multiple occasions

David Manners, the 11th Duke of Rutland, at home at Belvoir Castle (Rex Features)

One of the UK’s wealthiest aristocrats has been banned from driving his Land Rover after he was caught speeding on numerous occasions.

David Manners, the Duke of Rutland, 57, has a wealth of around £140 million and was disqualified for a year after amassing 24 points on his licence.

The duke was also handed a £3,025 fine after he exceeded the speed limit twice in Nottinghamshire, once in Derbyshire and once in North Yorkshire over the course of eight months.

In March this year, he was caught driving at nearly 75mph in a 50mph zone near Lowdham, Nottinghamshire. On the other three occasions, he was penalised for exceeding the speed limit by less than 10mph.

The duke lives in Belvoir Castle in Leicestershire, and also owns the Haddon Hall estate in Bakewell, Derbyshire.

Northallerton Magistrates’ Court heard the duke already had nine points on his driving licence when he was caught speeding in his Land Rover Discovery. The peer himself declined to attend the hearing.

The duke’s solicitors indicated he would plead guilty to all the offences, despite having not responded to fixed penalty notices.

Solicitor Lisa Wilson said in court: “He [the duke] does not wish to minimise the offences. He does not wish to put forward an argument of exceptional hardship.

"The court may consider that with the title he has and the property he resides in the defendant is of considerable means.”

The duke, a father of five, inherited his title and estates from his father Charles upon his death in 1999.

He lives with his estranged wife Emma in the Belvoir Estate, along with their respective partners.