England international footballer Jesse Lingard has been convicted of driving his Lamborghini whilst twice the drink drive limit.
Lingard, 30, admitted the offence of driving a motor vehicle when the amount of alcohol in his breath exceeded the prescribed limit when he appeared at Manchester Magistrates' Court on Thursday, 21st September 2023.
This is an offence contrary to section 5(1) of the Road Traffic Act 1988 and has a maximum penalty of 26 weeks' custody and/or a fine at level 5 (unlimited) on summary conviction.
The court heard that the offence took place on Saturday, 8th July 2023, when Lingard was returning home after enjoying a meal with friends. His personal assistant, who would usually be responsible for driving, was not at work that day.
Officers had cause to stop Lingard in relation to the speed he was driving. Having spoken to the 30-year-old footballer, they formed the opinion he was under the influence of alcohol and required him to provide a roadside specimen of breath.
Having failed the preliminary test, Lingard was arrested and taken to the police station. Whilst there he provided an evidential specimen of breath containing 76 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, which was just over twice the prescribed limit of 35 microgrammes.
The court heard that this offence predated that for which he was disqualified on 28th July 2023.
Frank Rogers, mitigating, said that Lingard had initially been out for a meal with friends and consumed only soft drinks. He then received an invitation from a fellow professional footballer and driven to Manchester to have a few drinks with him.
Mr Rogers said his client was remorseful and denied any suggestion that he had been racing at the time of the offence.
District Judge Joanne Hirst, sentencing, said: "One wonders who would have cared for your entire family had you killed yourself or someone else."
Lingard was fined £57,000.
He was also ordered to pay £2,000 surcharge, £85 towards prosecution costs and disqualified from driving for a period of 18 months.
A statement by the footballer said: "I want to acknowledge my mistake and publicly apologise for my unacceptable actions.
"I completely understand and accept the consequences of my mistake by putting the lives of others at risk.
"I am sorry to all my fans anyone who has followed and supported me throughout my career.
"I accept the sentence of the court and the fine."
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