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Tom Lawrence and Mason Bennett sentenced for drink-driving | |
(30 minutes later) | |
Derby County footballers Tom Lawrence and Mason Bennett have avoided jail after pleading guilty to drink-driving. | |
The pair were over the limit when their cars crashed on the A6 near Allestree in Derby after a team-building dinner. | The pair were over the limit when their cars crashed on the A6 near Allestree in Derby after a team-building dinner. |
At the city's magistrates' court they also admitted failing to stop at the scene of the crash on 24 September. | At the city's magistrates' court they also admitted failing to stop at the scene of the crash on 24 September. |
Lawrence and Bennett were ordered to carry out 180 hours of unpaid work, given a 12-month community order and banned from driving for two years. | Lawrence and Bennett were ordered to carry out 180 hours of unpaid work, given a 12-month community order and banned from driving for two years. |
District Judge Jonathan Taaffee had warned them a prison sentence was an option, as passengers were in the cars and they had left the scene. | |
Sentencing, he said the "intelligent and talented young men" had "brought shame upon yourselves, your family, your profession and your club". | |
Marianne Connally, prosecuting, said the players were driving home at about 23:30 BST after a night out at the Joiner's Arms pub. | Marianne Connally, prosecuting, said the players were driving home at about 23:30 BST after a night out at the Joiner's Arms pub. |
Lawrence's car smashed into the back of Bennett's, before continuing across a roundabout and hitting "street furniture", she added. | |
Ms Connally said a paramedic crew witnessed the crash "entirely by chance" and came to the aid of two passengers at the scene as the defendants fled. | Ms Connally said a paramedic crew witnessed the crash "entirely by chance" and came to the aid of two passengers at the scene as the defendants fled. |
Lawrence and Bennett, 23, returned to the scene about 45 minutes later and were arrested. | Lawrence and Bennett, 23, returned to the scene about 45 minutes later and were arrested. |
Derby captain Richard Keogh, who was a passenger in one of the cars, sustained a knee injury that has ruled him out for up to 15 months. | Derby captain Richard Keogh, who was a passenger in one of the cars, sustained a knee injury that has ruled him out for up to 15 months. |
The court heard Welsh international Lawrence, 25, gave a breath test reading of 58mcg per 100ml and Bennett a reading of 64. The legal limit is 35mcg per 100ml. | The court heard Welsh international Lawrence, 25, gave a breath test reading of 58mcg per 100ml and Bennett a reading of 64. The legal limit is 35mcg per 100ml. |
Lucy Whitaker, defending Bennett, said he had been sick at the pub after being "pressured" to drink a Jagerbomb shot by team-mates. | Lucy Whitaker, defending Bennett, said he had been sick at the pub after being "pressured" to drink a Jagerbomb shot by team-mates. |
He admitted he had drunk "some alcohol" on the night, but was driving "perfectly normally" on the way home when the crash occurred, Ms Whitaker said. | |
'Extreme regret' | 'Extreme regret' |
Bennett "panicked" and then left the scene, before returning after he received a call from Lawrence, the court heard. | Bennett "panicked" and then left the scene, before returning after he received a call from Lawrence, the court heard. |
Shaun Draycott, defending Lawrence, said references - including from Wales manager Ryan Giggs - suggested he was a "decent young man who behaved out of character". | Shaun Draycott, defending Lawrence, said references - including from Wales manager Ryan Giggs - suggested he was a "decent young man who behaved out of character". |
Mr Draycott said Lawrence had become "quite dependent" on alcohol since the death of his mother, to whom he was very close. | Mr Draycott said Lawrence had become "quite dependent" on alcohol since the death of his mother, to whom he was very close. |
Lawrence had made a "gross error of judgement" which is a "matter of extreme regret", he added. | Lawrence had made a "gross error of judgement" which is a "matter of extreme regret", he added. |
The district judge told Lawrence, of Duffield, and Bennett, of Whaley Thorns near Mansfield, someone could have died in the crash. | |
The pair had already been fined six weeks' wages by Derby County after the crash - the maximum their contracts would allow. | |
Lawrence signed for Derby from Leicester City for £5m in August 2017, while Bennett came through the Rams' youth system. | Lawrence signed for Derby from Leicester City for £5m in August 2017, while Bennett came through the Rams' youth system. |
Follow BBC East Midlands on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk. | Follow BBC East Midlands on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk. |