Moment Highway Code vigilante CyclingMikey catches Taron Egerton using his phone behind the wheel

Actor Taron Egerton has been caught looking at his mobile phone while driving in the capital - by a notorious vigilante cyclist.

The Kingsman star, 36, was spotted coming to slowing traffic in West London while behind the wheel of a blue Land Rover, before glancing at a mobile phone in his left hand.

Footage uploaded this week showed the actor looking to his right as YouTuber activist CyclingMikey, whose real name is Mike Van Erp, 50, came up close to his window. 

He has previously filmed several celebrities, including Guy Ritchie and Chris Eubank, breaching the Highway Code.

In his latest video, Rocketman star Mr Egerton, dressed in a dark-coloured baseball cap, green jacket and beige trousers, wound down his window and seemed surprised as Mr Van Erp asked: 'Are you allowed to be using your mobile phone while driving?' 

Mr Egerton, who was born in Cheshire and grew up in Aberystwyth, Wales, then replied: 'Well, I was stuck in traffic.'

'That's not an excuse,' said the Dutch cycling campaigner. 'When you get home, you can look it up on the Highway Code - and I will be reporting you to police, I'm afraid.'

Remaining calm, the actor - who voices Johnny the gorilla in animated hit Sing, simply responded: 'OK, thanks very much.'

As he cycled back to the other side of the road, Mr Van Erp shouted to the actor: 'Do better man.'

According to the Highway Code, it is an offence to hold and use a phone or any other handheld device that can send and receive data while driving or riding a motorcycle. 

The law applies even if you are stopped at traffic lights or queuing in traffic. 

Drivers found to have committed the offence can receive up to six penalty points and a £200 fine. 

In more serious cases, the matter can be sent to court, where the offender can be fined up to £1,000 and banned from driving. 

It is unclear whether Mr Egerton was fined or received penalty points following the incident in West Carriage Drive, Hyde Park, last October.

However Mr Van Erp confirmed to Daily Mail that he had reported the actor to police and received a response indicating that a Notice of Prosecution letter had been issued.

Daily Mail has contacted the actor's representatives for comment. 

The British star is certainly not the first well-known personality to have been caught out by the cycling vigilante.

Mr Van Erp is known to ride around London with a GoPro to catch drivers using their phones - often in traffic jams or by red lights - before confronting them on video and noting down their number plate.

He claims to have caught more than 2,000 offenders since first strapping on his 'helmet-cam' back in 2006.

Among those who have fallen foul of Mr Van Erp is Guy Ritchie, who was caught driving his Range Rover through Hyde Park in 2020.

The film director was ultimately given six points, fined and banned from driving for six months.

Asked afterwards about what motivated his crusade, the cyclist previously told Daily Mail: 'My dad was killed by a drink-driver when I was 19, I still remember him, so I feel very strongly about road safety. I first got my helmet camera in 2006 and realised its potential.'

In 2022, it emerged that former England footballer Frank Lampard had been caught on camera by Mr Van Erp holding a phone while at the wheel of his car. 

Mr Lampard was filmed driving his £250,000 Mercedes G-wagon holding a cup of coffee and his mobile, but escaped prosecution because the CPS said there was 'insufficient evidence'.

The ex-Chelsea midfielder had employed the services of Nick Freeman — the lawyer known as 'Mr Loophole' due to his success at getting famous clientele off — to defend him. 

Mr Freeman successfully argued that it could not be proved the sports star was interacting with his phone.

In September 2021, former boxer Chris Eubank was given three points and fined for running a red light after trying to flee from Mike, who had challenged him for trying to connect to his hands-free phone system.

'Apparently he said he was worried that I was a stalker,' Mr Van Erp reflected in an interview with the Daily Mail. 'Although I can't imagine Chris Eubank really being scared of anyone, can you?'

However Mr Van Erp suffered a rare setback after a jury cleared celebrity talent agent Paul Lyon-Maris of charges of dangerous driving and common assault, in 2022.

The cyclist came across Mr Lyon-Maris, who has represented Alan Rickman, Sir Ian McKellen and Warwick Davis, by a junction near London's Regent's Park.

Noticing the driver had performed an illegal right turn, he confronted the agent by standing in front of his car only to end up on his bonnet for 60ft.

The cycling campaigner can be heard on video yelling: 'Why are you driving into me?' 

Mr Lyon-Maris then shouted back: 'I've got an appointment at half-past eight. Get out of the way!' 

Following a short argument, Mr Van Erp is heard on footage saying, 'Hey Siri, call 999', before officers arrived at the scene.

In court, prosecutor James Dean said he 'used his car as a weapon' in an act of 'road rage' against Mr Van Erp. 

But Mr Lyon-Maris told jurors he felt 'intimidated' when the activist 'jumped' on his bonnet, and he was cleared of dangerous driving and common assault. He had already accepted a fine for the illegal turn.

In court, Mr Van Erp told the jury he accepted stepping out in front of vehicles is 'risky' but added: 'I look at it in the same way as taking the keys off a drink driver - I want to stop the immediate harm.' 

As for Mr Egerton, the latest celebrity caught on the vigilante's camera, revelation of his driving woes comes just months after he split from Baywatch star Brooks Nader, following a whirlwind romance.

Daily Mail reported the actor was back on celeb dating app Raya after his relationship with the 29-year-old actress came to an end only weeks after he was pictured meeting her family during a dinner date in LA. 

During their whirlwind romance there was speculation over whether the relationship was a 'showmance' after sources questioned whether it was part of a bid by the actor to replace Daniel Craig as the next James Bond.