Champion jockey Oisin Murphy has been fined £70,000 for drink driving after crashing his car into a tree. Murphy was arrested after his Mercedes A Class left the road in Hermitage, Berkshire, at about 00:05 BST on 27 April. He pleaded guilty at Reading Magistrates' Court earlier to driving a motor vehicle while over the prescribed limit of alcohol. The 29-year-old was charged by postal requisition on 19 June - the day herode two winners at Royal Ascot. He was not asked to plead on another count of failing to cooperate with a preliminary test at the roadside. He was also banned from driving for 20 months, and will have to reapply for his licence from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA). His driving ban could be reduced by 20 weeks if he were to take part in a drink drive rehabilitation scheme by August 2026. He was also ordered to pay a £2,000 surcharge and £85 in court fees. Murphy had a passenger with him at the time of the crash, who was the owner of the car, the court heard. They were both taken to hospital after the crash. Murphy was later discharged to take a breathalyser test at a police station at about 07:00, that showed a reading of 66mg per 100 millilitres of breath - just under twice the legal limit. Judge Sam Goozee, sentencing, told Murphy: "You are lucky that neither you, your passenger, or the public were injured by your actions. "I do balance that with the remorse you have shown. "You have also recognised that you have let the public down by virtue of your actions, and your colleagues in the racing world." Murphy, who grew up in Killarney, County Kerry, has been crowned UK champion jockey four times - in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2024. He was among the winners at the Doncaster Racecourse Supporting Racing Staff Week Handicap last week. You can followBBC BerkshireonFacebookandX.
Champion jockey Murphy fined £70k for drink driving
TruthLens AI Suggested Headline:
"Jockey Oisin Murphy Fined £70,000 and Banned from Driving for Drink Driving Incident"
Bbc News
8.1
TruthLens AI Summary
Champion jockey Oisin Murphy has faced serious legal repercussions following an incident of drink driving that resulted in a crash. On April 27, Murphy crashed his Mercedes A Class into a tree in Hermitage, Berkshire, shortly after midnight. Upon pleading guilty at Reading Magistrates' Court to driving while over the legal alcohol limit, he was fined £70,000 and banned from driving for 20 months. The court proceedings revealed that Murphy had a passenger at the time of the crash, who was the owner of the vehicle, and both individuals were taken to the hospital for treatment after the accident. A breathalyser test conducted later showed that Murphy had a reading of 66mg of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath, nearly double the legal limit for driving. In addition to the fine, he was ordered to pay a £2,000 surcharge and £85 in court fees, with the possibility of reducing his driving ban by 20 weeks if he completes a drink drive rehabilitation program by August 2026.
Judge Sam Goozee, who presided over the case, expressed concern for the safety of Murphy and his passenger, noting the potential dangers posed to the public by his actions. He acknowledged Murphy's remorse and recognition of his failure to uphold the responsibilities expected of him as a public figure in the racing community. Murphy, a highly successful jockey with multiple championships to his name, has been a prominent figure in horse racing, having won the UK champion jockey title four times. Despite his recent legal troubles, he continues to compete, as evidenced by his recent victories at the Doncaster Racecourse. This incident serves as a reminder of the serious consequences of drink driving and the impact it can have on both personal and professional lives.
TruthLens AI Analysis
You need to be a member to generate the AI analysis for this article.
Log In to Generate AnalysisNot a member yet? Register for free.