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17th Apr 2018

Ant McPartlin’s mother ‘didn’t know he was drunk’ before drunk-drive crash

The claims were made during the TV presenter's court case

Wayne Farry

Ant McPartlin’s mother was unaware that the television host was drunk as he sat behind the wheel prior to his drunk-driving crash last month.

The 42-year-old yesterday plead guilty to being twice over the legal limit at Wimbledon Magistrates’ court, after his March 21 crash which resulted in a four-year-old girl being hospitalised.

It has been claimed that both McPartlin’s mother and sober coach Christine Woodhall – the passengers in the car at the time of the accident – did not know that he was over the limit.

The TV presenter has faced intense fallout since the accident which has seen him re-enter rehab and step down from his presenting duties for the foreseeable future.

During proceedings yesterday, District Judge Barbara Barnes told him: “At the time when it happened you were struggling with various personal problems and also alcohol issues for some months. This incident happened, sadly, when it seems you suffered a brief relapse. I think it will have quite an impact on you to know you’re no longer a man of good character.”

He was also handed a £86,000 fine and has been banned from driving for 20 months.