FORMER Liverpool legend John Barnes escaped a driving ban after claiming he was too poor to hire a chauffeur.
Barnes, 44, was caught uninsured behind the wheel of his BMW X5 on the M6 at Thelwall, Warrington, in June of this year.
But the ex-Liverpool FC winger avoided a ban by insisting it would make his job as manager of the Jamaican national football side impossible.
The Liverpool favourite, who can earn £3,000 to £4,000 a week, said employing a driver was not feasible as his wage, workload and travelling requirements varied drastically.
Northwich magis-trates heard Barnes already has nine points on his licence – and the six-point penalty would have landed him an instant ban.
