EastEnders and James Bond star’s stalker hell: Actor spared driving ban over heartbreaking family illnesses is ‘regularly stalked’ by fanatics and fears them turning up at his £1.2million home

EastEnders and James Bond star Colin Salmon was regularly followed and feared fanatics would turn up at his £1.2million home, a court heard.

The 64-year-old actor sought to remain anonymous in open court ahead of the hearing in which he avoided a driving ban after being caught driving at 24 miles per hour.

Ahead of the hearing at Lavender Hill Magistrates’ Court in south-west London, Salmon’s barrister Sasha Laurel Jagroo claimed he was the victim of perverts.

He explained that the movie star had been followed before and that his family and home would be at risk if his address was published.

But judges rejected the application after Salmon’s legal counsel failed to identify a specific case of stalking and were told to call the police if fans ‘overstepped the mark’.

Ms Jagroo told judges: ‘My application is that it is not in the public interest and, in fact, it would be distressing for Mr Salmon and his family if his house number and address were disclosed in open court.

‘Mr Salmon is monitored regularly. He is in EastEnders and has been stalked before, and his family and home will be at great risk if his address is published.

‘He attracted unwanted attention, particularly when he starred in the James Bond films, and was hounded and hounded for interviews.’

Salmon asked that his address not be read out in court ahead of the hearing in which he avoided a driving ban because he said he was looking after his sick wife Fiona Hawthorne and their daughter Sasha – the couple were seen at the Chain Of Hope Gala Ball in London in November 2018.

Salmon is pictured alongside Dame Judi Dench in the 2002 James Bond film Die Another Day.

The application was rejected following objections from the Daily Mail, which reminded the panel of the importance of openness of justice and the defendants presenting themselves fully in court.

Board Chairman Mark Stollery announced: ‘The overriding principle is the public administration of justice. We have heard nothing to persuade us that disclosing your address would prejudice the course of justice.

‘We’ve heard that you need to get attention from the fans and the press but this doesn’t meet the threshold in our view.

‘If perverts cross the border and go to your home, it’s your responsibility to call the police.’

Judges allowed Salmon to keep his license despite multiple traffic offenses after explaining family reasons for him to remain on the road.

The actor cried as he described the serious health conditions of his wife, the artist Fiona Hawthorne, and their daughter Sasha.

Judges ruled the star, who was born in Bethnal Green, east London, must continue to drive them to medical appointments and honor his charity commitments.

Father-of-four Salmon, who starred as MI6 Deputy Chief of Staff Charles Robinson in three 007 films, pleaded guilty to driving his silver 1.3-litre Suzuki Wagon in excess of the 20mph speed limit on Old Oak Road, Acton, aged twenty-two, on March 31.

The court heard a speed camera caught him driving at 24 miles per hour at 7.17am, not far from the £1.2 million family home in nearby Shepherd’s Bush.

Salmon’s character in EastEnders, since joining the soap in 2023, is former boxer George Knight, patriarch of the Knight family and co-owner of the Queen Vic pub.

Salmon appeared in three James Bond films, including 1999’s The World Is Not Enough (pictured), starring Pierce Brosnan as 007.

He had already received nine points for speeding on April 30, 2023, running a red light on February 27 this year and careless driving on April 15.

Salmon has now been fined £666 with £130 costs, ordered to pay a £266 victim surcharge and given a further three penalty points, which usually trigger an automatic six-month disqualification.

Mr Stollery told him: ‘We submit that you are the breadwinner and carer of your family and that members of the family, including your wife and children, all have life-limiting conditions with different health problems.’

The judge ruled that Salmon and his family would be subjected to ‘extraordinary hardship’ if they were disqualified, adding: ‘They place an abnormal amount of trust in you compared to most families and we also note your charitable work and this takes time and travel.’

The Hollywood actor, who previously starred in Bond films such as Tomorrow Never Dies, The World Is Not Enough and ‘Die Another Day’ and turned soap opera star, told the court why he had to hide his license.

Salmon previously spoke about Fiona’s serious health condition on Good Morning Britain earlier this year, detailing her diagnosis of interstitial lung disease, which left her dependent on an oxygen tank.

The main reason he left his international acting career to take on a £15,000-a-month role in BBC soap EastEnders was to ensure he was close to home in case of any sudden emergency.

He told the judges: ‘My wife fell ill while I was working in America so I had to stay at home and the opportunity came up in 2022 to join the cast of EastEnders and stay in London.

‘They don’t offer a car. You have to commute to work; It’s part of our contract to be self-sufficient in this regard.’

Salmon’s character in EastEnders is former boxer George Knight, patriarch of the Knight family and former co-owner of the Queen Vic pub.