Leicester City player fined £20,000 after being caught drink-driving

Leicester City star Hamza Choudhury has been fined £20,000 after a court heard he was caught drink-driving on the wrong side of the road in his wife’s Range Rover.

Nottingham Magistrates’ Court was told the 26-year-old made the “impulsive and spontaneous” decision to drive back to a restaurant to collect his phone despite being more than double the legal alcohol limit in the early hours.

Choudhury, a married father of three young children, realised he had “let himself and his family down,” his lawyer said.

A 23-second clip of the footage was released by the Crown Prosecution Service after the case, showing Choudhury crossing back to the right side of the carriageway through a central reservation, before being pulled over near Nottinghamshire’s County Hall.

Choudhury was handed a 40-month driving ban, which will be reduced by around nine months if he completes a drink-driving rehabilitation course.

Prosecutor Ben Payne told the court Choudhury had a previous drink-driving conviction dating back to 2017, meaning the player faced a mandatory ban of at least three years.

Mr Payne told the court a police patrol stopped Choudhury in Loughborough Road, West Bridgford, Nottingham, in the early hours of Friday January 19.

Mr Payne said a charge of failing to co-operate with a roadside breath test had been withdrawn.

Choudhury, of Edwalton, Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to drink-driving and careless driving and was also ordered to pay a £2,000 victim surcharge and £85 in prosecution costs.

Defence lawyer Kally Sahota told the court Choudhury had shared a taxi home from a restaurant with a friend, but had returned in his wife’s car after waking up and realising he had left his phone behind.

“He wholeheartedly regrets that decision. I have already said he appreciates the enormity of it.

“He was on the wrong side of the road.”

During his mitigation on behalf of Choudhury, Mr Sahota stressed that the star pulled over quickly and there was no issue of him failing to stop for police.

“From the footage, there is not a soul on either side of the road,” the defence solicitor added. “Mr Choudhury knows this was a grave mistake.”

The judge said: “Mr Choudhury, you are pretty much living every child’s dream. You are a young man who has got to the top of his game.

“Whether you like it or not, you are a role model. Not only for your own children but for children around the country.

“I really hope this is going to be a wake-up call to you. I understand the rationale behind why you went to the restaurant.

“I do accept that this will impact you and that you are extremely embarrassed by what has occurred.”

“Please do not be tempted to drive while disqualified. That is a serious offence – most courts would look at a prison sentence.

“You are a young man with the world at your feet. Please let this be a lesson to you.”

Choudhury, who attended court with his partner, joined Leicester City as a seven-year-old, the judge was told.