Danny Cipriani cried when he was arrested for alleged drink-driving, a court has heard.
The England fly-half was on trial on Tuesday after being arrested last June, and Westminster Magistrates’ Court was told how the Sale Sharks player was “upset and tearful” when he was brought into custody.
The 28-year-old denies the drink-driving charge, but Sergeant Nicholas Peacock, who was working when Cipriani was arrested, said that he “appeared drunk to me”.
Peacock told the court:
“I briefly spoke to him to explain the custody practice and drink-drive practice, and explained to him there might be a delay because of the time of day. His eyes were glazed, he smelt of intoxicating liquor, appeared to be drunk to me, and was upset and tearful. I normally try to talk to the detainees and reassure them and talk to them about the process of what is happening.”
Cipriani was kept at an outside part of the station know as “the cage” so other detainees wouldn’t recognise them and the press wouldn’t be alerted.
“I was informed it was Danny Cipriani, he was a well-known celebrity,” Peacock informed the court. “I requested that the male please be kept outside in the cage to stop him being seen by others. The concern is that if you have a well-known person and they are seen by other people, that information can potentially be leaked to the press.”
The case was adjourned until Friday.
