Yaya Toure, the Manchester City footballer who in observance of his religion does not drink alcohol, has been given what is believed to be the biggest ever fine for drink-driving after he unwittingly drank brandy that had been 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.
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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 before 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.
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 £54,000 fine. 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".
"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," he said.
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 November 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 his £80,000 Audi RS6 had passengers.
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 Tuesday, 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."
Toure told the court that his net income is £54,000 per week. It has been reported that he earns upwards of £200,000 per week gross, but he may not have received appearance bonuses recently.
The Telegraph, London