Footballer Saido Berahino must pay a £75,000 fine and serve a 30-month road ban after abandoning his appeal against a drink-driving conviction.
The former Stoke City and West Brom striker, 26, was found guilty at a magistrates’ court trial in May of being almost three times over the drink-drive limit while behind the wheel.
But he said he would appeal the guilty verdict, claiming he had been fleeing a knifepoint robbery at the time and had no choice but to drive.
However, Berahino abandoned his appeal at Wood Green crown court yesterday. He will have to pay the fine imposed on conviction and must serve the 30-month driving ban.
The footballer was flouting a 48-hour Stoke City club ban on nights out when he went to the VQ restaurant in Bloomsbury, leaving at 3am on February 18.
Berahino told Highbury Corner magistrates that he had been robbed, but magistrates found the footballer’s evidence had been “inconsistent”.
A warrant was issued for his arrest last week after he was summonsed over the unpaid five-figure fine from the case. The warrant was later withdrawn.
Berahino has until November 7 to settle the court debt.
