UK Edition
Man City's Yaya Toure handed 'biggest ever' drink-driving fine of £54k
Yaya Toure, the teetotal Manchester City footballer, has been given what is believed to be the biggest ever fine for drink-driving after he unwittingly drank brandy mixed with Coke at a party.
Toure, a devout Muslim, was fined £54,000 - one week's wages - and banned from driving for 18 months after he admitted drink-driving. A judge told him it was “inconceivable” he had not realised he had been drinking.
But Toure managed to avoid being photographed attending court in east London by arranging for his appearance to be brought forward by a day, without the knowledge of the media.
He asked for the change because he needed to be in Manchester for training ahead of City’s Premier League match against Watford tonight, but legal experts said it was “unusual” for a court to agree to such a move.
The 33-year-old never touches alcohol for religious reasons and always shuns bottles of champagne when he is given man of the match awards, but ended up twice the legal drink-drive limit after his costly mix-up.
He told the judge at Barkingside Magistrates’ Court he had no idea he had been drinking, even though he conceded his Diet Coke - which he poured for himself from a jug - tasted odd, and although he felt “tired” he had not suspected he was tipsy.
The court accepted he had not intended to drink alcohol, but nevertheless handed him the driving ban and fined him £54,000. The judge said he would have fined him £81,000 but gave him credit for his guilty plea.
District Judge Gary Lucie said: "It appears to me that whilst you may not have knowingly consumed alcohol it should have been clear to you that you were in fact drinking alcohol at some point before you took the decision to drive.
"The reading is a high one and it is inconceivable that you were unaware of having consumed alcohol.”
Toure announced his conviction on his website, apologising to fans for the “situation”.
He said: "Over the last two weeks there has been some confusion as to why I was charged with drink driving, as it is well known that I am a Muslim and do not drink.
“As I was above the permitted limit when tested on the night, I decided not to challenge the charge. However, it was important to me that I told the court that I had not intentionally consumed alcohol.
“Drink driving is a serious crime and even though I was not intentionally consuming alcohol I accept the ban and fine and I would like to apologise for this situation.”
The Ivory Coast international midfielder, who joined City from Barcelona for £24 million in 2010, was pulled over on suspicion of speeding at more than 30mph in Dagenham, east London, at 11.15pm on Nov 28. A breath test found him to have 75 micrograms of alcohol in his breath - more than double the legal limit of 35.
He had been the "designated driver" on the night of the party and drove his £80,000 Audi RS6 with passengers in it.
As well as the fine, Toure was ordered to pay £85 costs and a £170 victim surcharge.
He agreed to take a drink-drive rehabilitation scheme course which will reduce his ban by 18 weeks.
Toure’s court case had been scheduled for yesterday, but was heard instead on Monday after his solicitor, Gwyn Lewis, asked for it to be moved to accommodate his training.
Mark Stephens, of the law firm Howard Kennedy, said: “It is unusual for a case to be put forward, but not unheard of. Canny lawyers who rich footballers can afford know how to play the game, and it is true that he has got a midweek match to play.”
Toure told the court that his net income is £54,000 per week. It has been reported in the past that he earns upwards of £200,000 per week, but it is understood that his salary may have been hit by his lack of appearance bonuses in recent months.
In December 2015 Toure escaped a driving ban when he was caught speeding at up to 101mph in his Porsche, after he claimed he had been confused by the car's speedometer, which was graded in kilometres per hour. He was instead given six penalty points.