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BBC live report on Ant McPartlin’s court hearing interrupted – by a car crash

Media were waiting for presenter to make statement after pleading guilty to drink-drink charge

A minor car accident took place this afternoon, as media gathered for Ant McPartlin’s appearance at Wimbledon Magistrate’s Court.

The prang was caught on camera as BBC reporter Alison Freeman presented live from the front of the courthouse in south west London.

Behind her, a car bumped into another which was stationary in front, which then proceeded to crash into a van.

Shocked, Alison said: “Excuse me, oh, just some cars had a bit of a crash behind us there… Such is the media crowd, it has been very busy here today.”

Her colleague in studio can be heard saying: “Oh dear.”

Alison was part of the media circus waiting for Ant to deliver a statement after his hearing, in which he pleaded guilty to driving with 75 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. (The legal limit is 35 microgrammes.)

The presenter was charged with drink-driving, following an incident in Richmond on the afternoon of March 18.

District Judge Barbara Barnes ordered him to pay an £86,000 fine, and suspended him to a 20-month driving ban, which could be shortened to 15 months on completion of an awareness course.

Ant McPartlin (Credit: Flynet Pictures)
Ant apologised outside court (Credit: Flynet)

Read more: Ant McPartlin handed huge fine in drink-drive case

The ITV presenter said outside court: “Can I say a few words? I just want to say I’m truly sorry for what happened. Higher standards are expected of me, I expect them of myself.

“I let myself down, I let a lot of people down. I am truly sorry.

“I would like to apologise to everybody involved in the crash. I’m just thankful nobody was seriously hurt. Thank you very much.”

Ant has been fined £86,000 and banned from driving for 20 months (Credit: Flynet)

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Earlier, the court heard that Ant told police after the crash: “I am very sorry I did this. I am ashamed and mortified that this happened.

“I accept full culpability for this and wish to apologise to all those concerned.”


Kaggie Hyland
Editor-in-Chief

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