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

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 Crown Court was told the 26-year-old made an “impulsive and spontaneous” decision to return to a restaurant to retrieve his phone while he had a blood alcohol level more than double the legal limit in the early hours of the night.

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

The court was shown police dashcam footage showing a traffic patrol activating blue lights and going through red lights behind Choudhury, who himself did not go through any red lights.

A 23-second clip of the footage was released by the Crown Prosecution Service after the case, showing Choudhury crossing back to the right-hand side of the carriageway across a central reservation, before being arrested near County Hall in Nottinghamshire.

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 that Choudhury had previous drink-driving convictions 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.

Choudhury was arrested and provided two breathalyzer test results at the police station, the lowest of which was 71mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath, more than double the limit of 35mcg.

Mr Payne said a charge of failing to co-operate during a roadside breath test had been withdrawn.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

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

Mr Sahota told the court: “He makes an impulsive and spontaneous decision to pick up his phone between 1.30am and 2am.

“He sincerely regrets this decision. I have already said that he understands its magnitude.

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

In mitigation on behalf of Choudhury, Mr Sahota stressed that the star had stopped quickly and there was no issue with him not stopping for the police.

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

Sentencing, District Judge Sunil Khanna told Choudhury, who earns £12,000 a week, that he hoped he would never see him in court again.

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

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

“I really hope this serves as a wake-up call to you. I understand why you went to the restaurant.

“I accept that this will have an impact on you and that you are extremely embarrassed by what has happened.”

The judge said of the course offered to Choudhury: “It is a very good course. It will teach you about the effects of alcohol and drink driving.”

“Do not give in to the temptation to drive while your license is suspended. This is a serious offense – most courts would sentence you to jail time.

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

Choudhury, who appeared in court with his partner, joined Leicester City when he was seven, the judge was told.