Rugby Player Receives Community Order for Drink Driving

Case study summary

Our client was a prominent female rugby player, playing at the elite level. She was charged with drink driving and driving while disqualified. She pleaded gulity and our specilaist motoring lawyers prepared an extensive mitigation package for the court. She avoided prison.

Case study

Our client found herself at a difficult point in her life following an almost career-ending injury and the loss of her grandmother. At this point in her life, she did something she would never normally do. After drinking with friends and family at a festival, she decided to drive home with her partner and crashed her car into a lorry. At the time, she had already been disqualified from driving. She was subsequently arrested for drink driving and driving while disqualified.

Our client had no previous convictions and was petrified at the thought of being held in a police cell overnight as well as being interviewed. She had no confidence in the duty solicitor she was given at the police station and, after she was released from custody and charged, approached our specialist motoring lawyers. We sat down with her and guided her through the process. We obtained details on every aspect of her life, such as her impressive rugby career, her glowing character, and the personal struggles she had recently faced.

She pleaded guilty to both offences and accepted responsibility at the first opportunity. We prepared an extensive package of mitigation for the court, throwing all of our efforts into her avoiding a prison sentence. We also instructed a barrister, well-experienced in motoring law, to present her mitigation in court.

The court were persuaded by the mitigation we provided and gave her a community order, meaning she does not go to prison. Thanks to our proactive and hardworking approach, she is now free to continue with her promising career.