THE businessman behind the now-closed children’s adventure centre Tamba Park has been fined for using a mobile phone while driving.
Jonathan Ruff was caught while driving his Bentley along Victoria Avenue on 31 January, the Magistrate’s Court heard.
When the police pulled him over, he said: “I know why you’ve stopped me. I was looking at Google maps.”
The 43-year-old apologised for the offence in court and explained: “The sat nav in the car wasn’t taking me the right route.”
Ruff, originally from Preston in Lancashire, owns several Jersey-based businesses grouped under the holding company Ruff Ventures, comprising property development, motors, bars and restaurants.
He is a founding shareholder of Northern Leaf, which was awarded a licence to cultivate medicinal cannabis in 2021.
He was the owner of Tamba Park adventure playground and boating lake in St Lawrence, which closed in 2019.
Ruff also runs a charity called Ruff’s Kitchens, providing meals for poor children in Zimbabwe.
Relief Magistrate David Le Cornu fined Ruff £400, but warned him that if he committed another driving offence it could be recorded on his licence or he might be banned from driving.
Ruff paid the fine before leaving the court room.
