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Former Top Gear presenter James May is appearing at Lavender Hill Magistrates' Court in South London to face trial after being charged because he didn't insure his 50-year-old orange Suzuki GT750 motorcycle in July last year. The star arrived to the proceedings on a bicycle. The 63-year-old wore blue jeans, a bright yellow shirt and coat and a black and silver cycle helmet as he was pictured securing his bike outside the courthouse. He seemed unfazed by his imminent appearance in the dock and raised a smile for photographers as he made his way inside.

May first came to prominence hosting the long running BBC motoring show alongside Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond from 2003 until 2015. When that ended he continued to work with the pair on the Grand Tour for Amazon. That ran for six seasons over almost eight years for premiering on November 18, 2016, and concluding its run with final specials which ran from 2024-2025.

The broadcaster was charged with keeping a motor vehicle which does not meet insurance requirements under his full name James Daniel May and the prosecutor was the DVLA.

He arrived at court just after 9.45am but his visit was fleeting as he was seen exiting the building at around 10.20am.

Prosecutors later told reporters May did not appear before magistrates and settled the case outside of court. No details of the settlement were revealed.

This is not James first legal issue with a vehicle. In 2022 he revealed he had been "breaking the law" after buying an electric scooter meant for exclusive use on privately owned land

He explained how he disregarded the "strict" rule due to a lack of space at home, thus failing to comply with the scooter's legal requirements.

He said: "As it is, I bought one in my fifties, a year and a half ago, and yes, I've been breaking the law. Mine's the Xiaomi Mi Pro 2, sold to me by Halfords on the strict understanding that it was for use only on privately owned land, but I don't have any of that and riding it up and down the kitchen really annoys my missus."

James then revealed that he had been using the gadget on the road, as well as in bicycle lanes, and even on the pavement. But although the TV star has heaped praise on the vehicle, he also admitted he had close calls after trying to speed over obstacles on the pavement.

He said: "At some point I met a ridge or kerb that my Brompton would have handled easily, going at a fair lick, and for several yards I continued the journey sans scooter and relying entirely on one of Monty Python's silly walks."