Singer Bedingfield avoids conviction with re-training deal

Pop singer Daniel Bedingfield will avoid conviction on careless driving charges if he completes a driving retraining course in Britain.

The 24-year-old was charged after the jeep he was driving crashed near Whangarei in January and he sustained a serious neck injury.

In a letter to Whangarei District Court, Bedingfield's lawyer yesterday sought an adjournment so Bedingfield could complete driver re-training in Britain.

The case was adjourned to August 19 so he could complete the driving course.

It is common practice to offer first-time offenders the opportunity to avoid conviction by re-training. The offer is only available to first-time offenders.

The New Zealand-born singer won the best male solo artist award at the Brit Awards in February this year.

Although it was unusual to get a request to do driver re-training overseas, it was not unheard of, Whangarei police Senior Sergeant Andy Meale said.

"He has not received special treatment. If anyone was living overseas and asked if they could do driver training overseas it would be considered."

Bedingfield was lucky to escape brain injury or paralysis when the vehicle he was driving rolled on Kauri Mountain Rd, near Whangarei, on January 2.

- NORTHERN ADVOCATE (WHANGAREI)