England and Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford has pleaded guilty to driving without due care and attention after police said he 'almost caused a crash' while driving his Lamborghini in Cheshire.
The 32-year-old, who is from Washington, was pulled over in his £200,000 car on April 14 this year. Court documents state that Pickford stopped after ignoring a give way sign, forcing two cars to slam on their brakes, and then sped off into the distance in the upmarket Cheshire town of Knutsford.
Police pursuit
PC Cecil Ricardo, of Cheshire Police, said he had just left the station when he saw Pickford's blue Lamborghini Urus with personalised number plates. He wrote: "I was stationary on Bexton Road, Knutsford, waiting for traffic signals to turn green. I then witnessed a blue Lamborghini Urus driving along Princess Street."
"It reached the junction with Toft Road, completely ignored the give way lines and pulled onto Toft Road causing two vehicles to slam on their brakes to avoid a collision. The Lamborghini then sped down Toft Road, Knutsford."
PC Ricardo said he activated his lights and siren to pursue the Lamborghini, noticing he was driving at 50mph while the Lamborghini "was still pulling away", adding: "The speed limit on that stretch of Toft Road, Knutsford, is 30mph." Pickford then appeared to notice the chasing police car and pulled over.
Court hearing scheduled
Pickford, who started his career at Sunderland AFC, pleaded guilty in writing in the Single Justice Procedure and told Warrington Magistrates Court: "I would like to attend court to put forward my mitigation." His case was formally adjourned last week until a hearing at Chester Magistrates' Court on December 7.
