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| Christian & Fortunata Benteke |
The wife of Crystal Palace striker Christian Benteke was banned for drink-driving today after crashing into another vehicle after a late-night champagne celebration.
Wimbledon Magistrates Court was told officers were called to the scene of the collision seven miles from 25 year-old Fortunata Benteke’s £3.1m home.
The Dutch mother-of-two, of Heavenly House, Warren Drive, Tadworth, Kingswood, Surrey pleaded guilty to driving her brand new white three-litre Mercedes-Benz with excess alcohol in her breath.
She gave a reading of 42 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath after the crash in Stanley Park Road, Carshalton on October 22. The legal limit is 35.
Fortunata was also fined £230, with £85 costs and ordered to pay a £32 victim surcharge.
She now joins her 28 year-old Belgian international husband on a twelve-month driving ban after he was penalised for three speeding offences at Lavender Hill Magistrates Court last week.
The £30m signing was caught on camera driving his £136,000 Bentley at 80 and 89mph in 50mph and 40mph zones respectively and at 64mph in a 30mph zone.
Her lawyer Eddie Tang told the court today: “She was at a friend’s house, who was upset about the end of a relationship.
“It was late at night and the friend wanted to toast the end of the relationship and she had one glass of champagne.
“She is extremely apologetic and has made amends for the damage to the other vehicle.”
Prosecutor Miss Victoria Murphy told the court: “The defendant was seen to be the driver of a white Mercedes.
“Officers were on patrol and were assigned to a collision and spoke to the driver of the Mercedes and the defendant was asked to provide a breath test and the lowest reading was forty-two.
“The case summary shows the defendant was extremely apologetic at the time of the incident. There was another person there, who was the driver of the other vehicle who was present.
“This is aggravated by the fact she was involved in an accident.”
Fortunata, who was whisked to and from court in a luxury vehicle with blacked-out windows and accompanied by a minder, spoke only to confirm her name, date of birth, address and nationality.
Mr. Tang added: “There is very little I can say. She has pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity.
“She is a married woman with two children aged five and three years-old.
“She is a housewife and mother supported by her husband and she does not try to minimise her culpability.
“She is supported by her husband and given money every month for the children and the rest is disposable income.”
The court heard Fortunata, dressed in a white polo top and checked blazer, has a Belgian driving licence and is in the process of applying for a UK one.
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