Gillingham football club owner Paul Scally faces losing his driving licence after being caught talking on a mobile phone while at the wheel of his BMW.

Canterbury magistrates were told today the millionaire businessman was seen by a police officer using his phone and driving in Dover in August last year.

Mr Scally, 54, of Borough Green, was not in court for the hearing and is believed to be on business in Dubai.

His licence was endorsed with three points, but sentencing was adjourned until February 25 because he already has nine penalty points. The latest conviction

means he will be banned under the totting up system, unless he successfully claims mitigating circumstances.

Teresa Ruiz, prosecuting, said a Dover Docks PC spotted Scally driving his BMW X5 at the Union Street roundabout on August 4 while using his mobile phone.

He drove into the docks with the phone pressed to his ear and was stopped.

The case was proved in his absence and he was ordered to attend next month, when magistrates will decide how long to ban him. It could be up to six months unless he successfully appeals to keep his licence.