TV presenter Ant McPartlin has been fined £86,000 and banned from driving for 20 months at Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court after admitting driving while more than twice the legal alcohol limit.
The 42-year-old star was charged after being involved in a collision with two other cars while driving his Mini in Richmond, London on 18 March.
The TV presenter stood in the glass dock in the Court and confirmed his details before pleading guilty to one charge of drink-driving.
McPartlin encountered a large crowd of photographers and reporters as he walked up the steps at the main court entrance, which was guarded by seven police officers.
The charge stated that he had 75 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath.
The legal limit in the UK is 35 microgrammes per 100 millilitres of breath.
The presenter had been scheduled to appear at Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court on 4 April, but the hearing had been adjourned.
Upon sentencing, District Judge Barbara Barnes told McPartlin “you are a well-known and successful entertainer”.
She added: “At the time when it happened you were struggling with various personal problems and also alcohol issues for some months.
“This incident happened, sadly, when it seems you suffered a brief relapse.”
The judge described McPartlin’s previous “exemplary character” adding: “I think it will have quite an impact on you to know you’re no longer a man of good character.”
Fining him, she said: “Because of the seriousness of this offence, the financial pain must be imposed on you as on any other offender.”
McPartlin was also told to pay £255 in costs.
Meanwhile, fellow presenter and long-time friend Declan Donnelly hosted the last two episodes of Saturday Night Takeaway in a solo capacity at the weekend.
He is currently presenting Britain’s Got Talent, although McPartlin made an appearance on the ITV show over the weekend as the show aired its pre-recorded auditions.
RTE.ie
