Emmerdale actor lands six month driving ban for speeding

Rik Makarem, 29, who plays Nikhil Sharma in the soap, already had nine points on his licence when he was caught doing 49mph in a 40mph zone in Leeds.

At Dewsbury Magistrates Court yesterday the actor, whose full name is Tarik Makarem, argued a ban would damage the believabilitys of his character.

But District Judge Marie Mallon said: “...I will endorse three points and you will be disqualified from driving for six months.”

The actor said: “A person who has a profession like mine, when they are put into public transport or public places, have a media persona that presents a number of difficult challenges.

“It has a dramatic effect health-wise I would say.”

He said he was under pressure to maintain “this media personality” the public know and to do so on a daily basis would be a challenge. If he was disqualified it would have a big impact on filming as his character drives.

Makarem, of Chesterfield, who commutes to Leeds, denied soap stars had personal drivers at their disposal.

Andrew Thompson, for Makarem, said unpredictable shifts meant he could not complete a speed awareness course which was offered to him after the offence on February 25.

He said it is this unreliable schedule which meant the actor could not rely on public transport to work.