Driving Ban and Large Fine for Ant McPartlin
TV presenter pleads guilty and says he is 'ashamed and mortified'
Ant McPartlin arrives at court
Chiswick-based TV presenter Ant McPartlin has received a 20 month driving ban and been fined £86,000 after admitting drink driving.
He pleaded guilty to the offence at a hearing in Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court this Monday (16 April). The fine is reportedly the largest fine for drink driving ever given out in the UK and is based on the star's earnings.
After being involved in a collision with two other cars on 18 March on Upper Richmond Road in Mortlake, he was breathalysed and found to be more than two times over the drink drive limit. The charge sheet held by the Metropolitan Police showed that the breath test taken in the immediate aftermath of the collision gave a reading of 75mcg of alcohol per 100ml compared to the legal limit of 35 mcg.
A witness statement from one of the other drivers involved said that Mr McPartlin’s mini rounded a corner “like a rocket”. Another driver involved in the collision, who had his wife and child in the car with him at the time, said that they could have died as a result of Mr McPartlin’s “reckless driving”.
The statement by Mr McPartlin given when he was charged on 21 March was read out in court. In it he accepted full responsibility and said that he is "ashamed and mortified" and that he intended the incident would be a turning point for him. He said, "I accept full culpability for this and wish to apologise to all those concerned." He said that he would be getting specialist help to 'ensure that nothing of this nature happens again'.
The court was told that that Mr McPartlin was receiving treatment for ‘alcohol and emotional issues’. He recently announced that he and his wife of 11 years were to divorce and he had previously spent time in a rehab centre to deal with issues around dependency on painkillers which developed after complications following a knee operation.
He has currently stepped down from his role as a host on Saturday Night Takeaway and Britain’s Got Talent which have been hosted by his TV partner and close friend Declan Donnelly.
There was an ironic incident outside the court while proceedings were taking place. As a BBC reporter described the scene, a pile up involving three cars took place directly behind her.
Car Crash Outside Ant McPartlin's Court Hearing #carcrashtv pic.twitter.com/V7dVRSRctV
— Richard Main (@RPMain) April 16, 2018
April 16, 2018