John Stones convicted of speeding after World Cup duty left his Cheshire home empty for four months

From the Newshound archive · first published 30 September 2026 · last updated 1 October 2026.

England defender John Stones was convicted and handed a £1,052 court bill after a police speeding letter sat unopened at his vacant Cheshire home while he represented his country at the World Cup. The Inter Milan centre-back was caught doing 43mph in a 30mph zone near his Cheshire home on 8 May in his £150,000 Range Rover. He admitted the speed but missed a second letter offering him a fixed penalty, triggering a magistrate's prosecution that landed him four penalty points, a £666 fine, £120 costs and a £266 victim surcharge.

Stones told Warrington Magistrates Court his home sat empty for 'almost four months' covering the tournament, a holiday and his Milan move.

'Nothing to say about the speeding,' he wrote — blaming only the 'unfortunate administrative error' caused by his prolonged absence from the UK.

England stayed in the tournament until 19 July; Stones then moved to Inter Milan, meaning no one was home to open any post.