Jack Grealish: England and Aston Villa star given nine-month driving ban and 拢82k fine after lockdown crash
Footballer was also sentenced for driving at more than 90mph along the M42 at an "intimidating distance".
Tuesday 15 December 2020 15:39, UK
England star Jack Grealish has been banned from driving for nine months and fined 拢82,499 after crashing his Range Rover during March鈥檚 COVID-19 lockdown.
The 25-year-old Aston Villa captain was sentenced at Birmingham Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, after previously admitting two counts of careless driving.
One was linked to an incident during the first coronavirus lockdown when his £80,000 Range Rover hit two parked vehicles in Dickens Heath, Solihull, West Midlands. The 4x4 was then driven into a nearby car park wall.
A witness said Grealish smelled of "intoxicating liquor" and was slurring his words, immediately after the crash on 29 March.
The Premier League star, of Barnt Green, Worcestershire, was involved in the incident less than 24 hours after issuing a Twitter video message urging people to stay at home to save lives and protect the NHS.
He apologised hours after the crash, saying in a video message that he was "deeply embarrassed" and had "stupidly agreed" to go to a friend's house.
He also pleaded guilty to a separate offence of careless driving after prosecutors said he was spotted driving at more than 90mph along the M42 at "close to an intimidating distance" by an unmarked police car, on 18 October.
Sentencing, District Judge John Bristow, told the player: "The offence on March 29 was committed six days after the national coronavirus lockdown was announced.
"You should have been at home, you do not assert you had any proper reason not to be.
"You should not have been driving on March 29 - this is a further aggravating feature."
He added: "The two offences were committed within seven months of each other, you have caused damage by your driving and you have driven in an intimidating way at excessive speeds on a motorway."
Grealish already had six points on his licence for a speeding offence in 2018.
He was ordered to pay costs of £220 and a victim surcharge of £181, taking his total in costs and fines to £82,900 - all payable within seven days.
The winger will also have to apply for a new licence, once his ban ends.