Richard Benyon was caught by police in April using his mobile in his BMW in Islington, north London. The Newbury MP had previously been vocal on the topic after a deadly crash in his constituency last year. Benyon said he "deeply regretted his actions", adding there was "absolutely no excuse" for texting while driving.

He pleaded guilty to driving while using a mobile phone on Upper Street, Islington.

He was given six penalty points, fined £306, and ordered to pay £115 in prosecution costs and a victim surcharge fee at Willesden Magistrates' Court.

The former Parliamentary Under Secretary at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) already had six points on his licence, meaning he was automatically disqualified from driving.

Under the 12 points procedure he was immediately banned from driving for 12 months after magistrates applied the mandatory six penalty points to his licence which was already loaded with six points - three for a speeding offence in October 2014 and three for another speeding offence in September 2015.