Television presenter and former league star Matthew Ridge will defend a driving charge on the grounds of "special reasons" related to his passenger, model Nicky Watson, on the night in question.
Ridge faces a charge of driving outside the hours of a limited licence after he was pulled over by
Auckland police shortly before midnight on August 28.
At a brief hearing in the Auckland District Court yesterday, defence lawyer Stephen Tee said Ridge was behind the wheel only because his passenger was too upset to drive.
It is understood the passenger was Mrs Watson, the estranged wife of Eric Watson, a high-profile businessman and owner of the Warriors rugby league team.
The court heard that Ridge had gone to Auckland Airport within the hours of his day licence to pick up the passenger, who was returning from Sydney.
When she arrived, Ridge found she was too upset to drive because some people were harassing her.
Mr Tee said the police officer who stopped Ridge had confirmed that the same people were still harassing her when they were pulled over on Great South Rd in Greenlane.
The court was not told who was involved in the harassment, but it has previously been reported that Ridge was being tailed by a private investigator who called police to allege he was driving while disqualified.
Mr Tee presented the court with a statement from Ridge outlining why he was driving, and said the passenger had also faxed a similar unsigned statement from Christchurch.
After reading the material, Judge Barry Morris offered to "ameliorate" Ridge with a three-month discount on the six-month disqualification that usually accompanied the charge if he changed his plea to guilty.
A disappointed-looking Ridge then asked to consult his lawyer. Mr Tee returned and told the court Ridge had "decided to take his chances" and defend the charge before another judge at a full hearing next May.
He was remanded at large.
Ridge was disqualified from driving after being caught travelling at more than 150km/h on the Northern Motorway in August last year.
Ridge, who appears in television shows such as The Chair, The Mating Game and A Game of Two Halves, has said he holds a day licence that allows him to drive from 6.30am to 8.30pm Monday to Saturday.
Mrs Watson has been separated from her husband since late last year and has not accompanied him on his permanent move to London.
Television presenter and former league star Matthew Ridge will defend a driving charge on the grounds of "special reasons" related to his passenger, model Nicky Watson, on the night in question.
Ridge faces a charge of driving outside the hours of a limited licence after he was pulled over by
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