GILLINGHAM FC chairman Paul Scally has lost his licence for six months after being convicted of using a mobile phone while driving.

The 54-year-old, who already had points on his licence, was banned automatically on Friday after Canterbury Magistrates’ Court gave him three points for his latest offence.

The court heard police saw Scally driving a black BMW at the Union Street roundabout in Dover on August 4.

The Gills boss had been convicted in his absence after he failed to turn up for a previous court hearing, but Scally’s solicitor Christopher Waters said Scally had not been aware of the proceedings against him and the first he knew of the case was when he was contacted by the media for comment.

Letters were sent to his UK address while Scally spends most of his time living in Dubai, Mr Waters said.

Scally received six points on his licence for speeding in 2008 and already had three points for a previous driving offence. The points he received on Friday took him to the 12-point threshold for an automatic ban.

In addition to the six-month ban, Scally was fined £500 with £85 costs and a £15 surcharge.

In a letter passed to magistrates and the press, Scally accused the court of acting in an "unfair and unjust" way.

For full story see Monday’s Medway Messenger.