BBC weatherman Des Coleman walked out of a courtroom in tears yesterday - moments before he was banned from driving for three months. (14)

Derby-born Coleman, who presents the weather on East Midlands Today, was in court after he was stopped by police on November 13 last year.

The former Eastenders actor, originally of Allenton, admitted driving without insurance and was facing a minimum ban of six months due to the amount of points he already had on his licence.

But he claimed the minimum ban would cause him excessive hardship and magistrates in Nottingham cut his disqualification to three months.

He said he had not been aware that his insurance had expired on November 6 and had not been sent a reminder from his insurance company.

"I'm absolutely gutted," he told the court.

"In a sense I'm glad they stopped me because otherwise I could have been driving without insurance for a long time."

He added that he was "ashamed" that his insurance had expired.

The 44-year-old, of Swadlincote, was also reprimanded by magistrate Graham Roseblade for using "unacceptable" language in court.

He later cried and walked out of the courtroom while character references were being read out.

The court heard he had already been given a six-week disqualification earlier this week for speeding on the motorway.

Magistrates also heard Coleman travelled around 45,000 to 50,000 miles a year to do acting and charity work.

The former Littleover School pupil said he would not be able to use public transport for his 5am shift starts at the BBC during his disqualification.

Tim Lumb, in mitigation, said a long disqualification would also mean Coleman would lose his acting and lecturing jobs, which make him around £20,000 to £25,000 a year.

The court heard Coleman, who earns £33,000 a year at the BBC, has four children - a 20-year-old, a 17-year-old who has cerebral palsy, an 11-year-old and a four-year-old.

"The defendant is the soul breadwinner for the family," said Mr Lumb.

Magistrates sentenced Coleman to a three-month disqualification, to run concurrently with the six-week disqualification already in force.

He was also ordered to pay an £800 fine, £200 costs and a £15 victim surcharge.

Mr Roseblade, said: "We have found that exceptional hardship has been proved because of the impact and the loss of income on your family."

Coleman found fame as loveable rogue Lenny Wallace in BBC's EastEnders from 1996-2000.

He also regularly portrays singer Sammy Davis Jnr in productions of The Rat Pack and has starred in several West End musicals.

As well as presenting weather forecasts in the East Midlands, he is also a reporter on BBC TV's early evening programme The One Show.