COMIC Roy “Chubby” Brown has apologised after being caught behind the wheel looking at a newspaper - insisting he only glanced at it for three seconds.

The controversial comedian, whose real name is Royston Vasey, was captured on police cameras perusing The Sun as he drove his white Lexus, tailing a lorry, along the A19 near Crathorne, in May this year.

After pleading guilty by post to driving without due care and attention, he was fined £30 by Northallerton Magistrates’ on Wednesday and received four penalty points.

The comedian was also ordered to pay costs of £40 and a victim surcharge of £20.

The 69-year-old, of East Harlsey,  near Northallerton, admitted at the weekend: “I was in the wrong and that’s it. I apologise.

“I’m guilty as charged and I just have to sit back and lick my wounds.”

He said he had shopped at a nearby Tesco store and was driving home when he took a “three- second glance” at the tabloid newspaper.

“It was a glance, It wasn’t as if I was reading an article.”

His image was captured by one of the police’s mobile camera operators and the resulting video clearly shows him with the newspaper spread in front of the steering wheel.

The Grangetown-born star claimed his car was recognisable because of its private number plate.

He added:“This is the second or third incident I have had with North Yorkshire Police over stupid, stupid things.”

North Yorkshire Police insisted the force treats everyone exactly the same.

“When the offence was detected there was a car driving down a dual carriageway with the driver reading a newspaper that could clearly be seen over the steering wheel.”