Blue star Lee Ryan, 38, blames speeding offences on his girlfriend as he tells how he can't pay £1,500 fine because Covid has 'ruined' his life and left him 'broke'

Blue singer Lee Ryan tried to pin his speeding ticket on his girlfriend and said he has no money to pay it due to the pandemic.

He said Verity Morley had the use of his white Mercedes 4X4 'because she was going up and down the country in the car with her job'.

The 38-year-old told a court yesterday: 'I gave her my car because I thought it was safer than her own.'

He also revealed the impact the coronavirus crisis has had on him, writing on Instagram: 'I am broke and I have no money due to the pandemic.'

Ryan appeared before Peterborough Magistrates via remote link from Spain on Thursday, where he was disqualified from driving for 12 months and fined £660.

The former star, who said he was 'out of work due to Covid', was ordered to pay £1,501, including court costs, and he told the court: 'I just don't have any money.'

Blue singer Lee Ryan (pictured in 2019) tried to pin his speeding ticket on his girlfriend and said he has no money to pay it due to the pandemic

He said Verity Morley had the use of his white Mercedes 4X4 'because she was going up and down the country in the car with her job'

Court papers said he was charged with driving the car at 70mph in a 60mph limit on an A-road in Peterborough on August 8 last year, and driving at 71mph on August 22.

These charges were dismissed as the prosecution offered no evidence due to there being no means of proving who was driving.

Ryan went on trial for two counts of failing to give information relating to the identification of the driver when required, and was found guilty by magistrates.

The singer, who insisted during the hearing he had sent off the required information, was told if the money is not paid he can be brought back to court and could find himself in prison.

He also revealed the impact the coronavirus crisis has had on him, writing on Instagram: 'I am broke and I have no money due to the pandemic.' Pictured: With his family

Ryan told the court Morley had the use of his vehicle 'because she was going up and down the country in the car with her job', adding: 'I gave her my car because I thought it was safer than her own.'

Alison Marsh, Presiding Justice, said it is accepted he was the owner of a Mercedes in August and September last year and he did not advise the DVLA of changes of address in 2020.

She said: 'It is disputed that you responded to the request for details of the driver speeding on the 8th of August and the 22nd of August 2020.'

She added: 'The defendant agreed that he had not advised the DVLA of his changes of address in 2020, which is a legal requirement.

'We feel he has confused Verity's speeding in his car on the 5th September 20, which she received points in March this year, with these offences, and we conclude he has failed to provide information relating to the driver's identity on the 8th August and the 22nd August 20 as legally required to do.'

Ryan is pictured with his Blue bandmates Simon Webbe, Duncan James and Antony Costa (left to right in 2002)

She said she accepts it may not have been a 'deliberate act', but said the legal requirement that the DVLA has a correct and up-to-date address for you applies to everyone. 'We therefore find you guilty,' she said.

Mrs Marsh gave Ryan two lots of six points against his licence, resulting in a disqualification from driving for 12 months.

In regard to the fine, she said magistrates took into account the fact the music industry has been 'severely hit' by the coronavirus pandemic, and decided to charge him for one offence.

After she listed the £660 fine, £66 victim surcharge and £775 prosecution costs, Ryan said: 'I just don't have any money.

'I'm not working. I mean, they've stopped the gigs. I don't have any gigs. They've stopped everything because of the pandemic. There's still no shows going on.'

It was put to Ryan there are shows going on in the UK, and he said: 'I've not got anything. I haven't got anything.'

He was asked if it would be unreasonable to think he may have some savings, and he said: 'No, I spent them all in Covid.'