England rugby player Danny Cipriani has been convicted of drink-driving after crashing his Mercedes into a taxi in London last year. The 28-year-old fly-half was found to have 67 micrograms of alcohol per 100ml of breath, nearly twice the legal limit, following the incident on 1 June 2017.
Westminster Magistrates' Court heard that Cipriani, who now plays for Wasps and earns £3,200 a week, was so intoxicated his eyes were 'glazed', he slurred his words and could not stand straight after the crash in Fulham. He was fined £4,500, ordered to pay £3,120 in costs, and banned from driving for 18 months.
Cipriani claimed he was shocked by the positive breathalyser result, despite admitting to drinking two espresso martinis and a glass of champagne less than an hour before driving. He had been out with other players after England's match against the Barbarians on 31 May.
His lawyer, Philip Lucas, attempted to have the case dismissed, arguing insufficient evidence that the breathalyser machine was working properly. However, Chief Magistrate Howard Riddle ruled the machine was reliable and found Cipriani guilty.
Cipriani's solicitors announced they would appeal the verdict, maintaining his innocence and disputing the accuracy of the breath test. The case has been protracted, with Cipriani's legal team citing inconsistencies and failures to disclose evidence.
