Derby County stars Tom Lawrence and Mason Bennett have been sentenced after pleading guilty to drink-driving and failing to stop at the scene of an accident.
The two Championship players were involved in an accident on the A6 near Derby last month, which also involved Derby skipper Richard Keogh - leaving the defender sidelined for the remainder of the season.
District Judge Jonathan Taaffe heard how Welsh international Lawrence, 25 recorded a breath test reading of 58 micrograms per 100ml and Bennett, 23 recorded a level of 64. The legal limit is 35.
Both players have been disqualified from driving for 2 years, given a 12-month community order each, ordered to carry out 180 hours of unpaid work and costs of £85 and £90 victim surcharge.
Marianne Connally, outlining the case, said: “Both Lawrence and Bennett left the premises at 11.30pm heading in the general direction of Burley Hill.
“During the course of that here has been a collision between Lawrence’s vehicle with the rear of Bennett’s vehicle. There was some damage to the rear.”
Lawrence and Bennett were charged following an incident which saw a Range Rover and a Mercedes collide in Allestree on Tuesday, September 24.
Lawrence, 25, of Auckland Place, Duffield, and Bennett, 23, of Chapel Street, Whaley Thorns, near Mansfield, were arrested at the scene and charged the following day.
Derby County released a statement, on October 4, concerning the incident.
In the statement they revealed the punishment that the club have handed to the players.
It read: "Derby County Football Club has completed the disciplinary hearing regarding Tom Lawrence and Mason Bennett in respect of their involvement in the events of last Tuesday evening, which resulted in both of them being arrested and scheduled to appear in court on October 15.
"Irrespective of the outcome of that process, the club will not tolerate any of its players or staff behaving in a manner which puts themselves, their colleagues, and members of the general public at risk of injury or worse, or which brings the club into disrepute.
"Both Lawrence and Bennett are therefore being fined the equivalent of six weeks’ wages – the maximum contractual limit - and will serve an additional 80 hours of community and rehabilitation, which will include a drink aware course.
"The club will be making no further comment regards this matter."
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