By RICHARD MARSDEN, GENERAL REPORTER
A classic car-loving film maker working with a string of top companies has been fined after police had to reach 100mph to catch up with him after he was spotted driving recklessly while already banned.
Ehsan Bhatti had previously eulogised to his social media followers about his ‘gorgeous’ 1980s Ferrari F355 GTS, which he had driven across Europe and described as ‘probably one of the prettiest Ferraris ever’..
But the 41-year-old - nominated for a Young Directors Award at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival and who has worked for brands such as Louis Vuitton, Burberry, BMW, Prosche, Nike and Samsung producing promotional videos - fell foul of police when driving on the A5 at Cerrigydrudion, North Wales, in May.
At the time, he was subject of a six-month driving ban imposed the previous November by City of London Magistrates for failing to provide information about the identity of who was driving a classic Mercedes car registered in his name.
A police patrol officer became aware of Bhatti’s Ferrari, worth at least £70,000, after it overtook a string of vehicles.
Prosecutor Diane Williams, prosecuting, told Mold Magistrates’ Court that the officer ‘reached more than 100mph to catch up with him’, after the Ferrari overtook vehicles.
She added: ‘The vehicle contravened a solid white line as it travelled towards Cerrigydrudion.’
The court heard Bhatti was also found to have been driving the Ferrari without insurance.
Film-maker Ehsan Bhatti poses on Instagram video with Ferrari believed to be the one he was driving in North Wales
Bhatti makes clear his admiration of the vintage 1980s' sportscar, which is worth at least £70k
Bhatti as he is about to show off the plush interior of the Ferrari in the social media video
Mrs Williams said Bhatti, who lives in a £1m home in Finchley, North London, told police he was unaware of the ban.
North Wales roads policing unit had posted about their pursuit of Bhatti on social media, saying: ‘The driver was seen to be contravening solid white lines, driving at excess speed and careless driving
‘Turns out he'd travelled up to North Wales from London and was also disqualified...
‘The man was reported for disqualified driving, careless driving and contravening solid white lines.
‘By all means, come here – drive safe, go home and repeat. Come here, drive dangerously, lose your licence – or your life. It’s your choice.’
Rhys Rosser, defending, said the previous November’s court hearing took place in his client’s absence.
Mr Rosser said Bhatti travelled abroad regularly for work in America and South Africa.
He said: ‘He’s flown back for this hearing and leaving the jurisdiction again tomorrow. He wasn’t aware of the (City of London) disqualification at the time.'
Bhatti is pictured at Mold Magistrates' Court on Friday, where he was sentenced to further ban
Bhatti was also fined £2,200 and told by magistrates: 'The rules are there for a reason'.
Bhatti was fined a total of £2,204 with costs of £967. A further eight-months ban was imposed. He admitted driving whilst banned, without insurance and failing to comply with white lines.
Court chairman Ian Jones told him: ‘We have taken a lot of time to consider these matters, not least because we take driving offences in North Wales very seriously. The rules are there for a reason.
‘It was a bank holiday weekend where there would be families and visitors to the area driving that road.’
He’d driven a significant distance, the magistrate added.
