Chelsea football star Wesley Fofana has been hit with yet another driving ban after he was caught speeding in his Lamborghini on the hard shoulder.
The £70million centre-back – already serving a two-year disqualification for a total of eight speeding offences – must also now complete 300 hours of unpaid community service or go to prison.
He pleading guilty to driving the white Super Sport Utility Vehicle dangerously on April 20 along the A3 Esher Bypass in Hook, Surrey.
Fofana, 24, who lives in a six-bedroom £4.5million detached property with home gym and cinema room in Cobham, Surrey, arrived at Staines Magistrates’ Court along with two bodyguards.
Another motorist had recorded France international Fofana’s driving on their dash cam and reported him to police.
District judge Julie Cooper told the player: ‘You obviously realise there are a lot of young people who look up to you and they would like to be like you and follow you. That’s part of the whole gig.
‘However, they will not be able to afford these expensive cars, with all their additions that keep them safe and you could have some 17-year-old, who has just passed their test, who think they can copy you.
‘They will not be able to handle their car and do some ridiculous driving manoeuvre and they are dead. You need to be much more responsible about your behaviour.’
Wearing a black shirt, black jacket and black cargo trousers Fofana stood in the secure dock and spoke only to give his name, address and date of birth.
Earlier a bodyguard stood watch near the court entrance well before Fofana and his legal team arrived in a people carrier with a second bodyguard, then repeating the same exercise on his departure.
Prosecutor Rabbia Khan told the court it was 4.50pm on April 20 this year when the second motorist captured Fofana on camera.
She said: ‘The witness identified the danger and this defendant was driving on the hard shoulder at speed in a 50mph zone.
‘The offence is aggravated by an approaching bend that was sign-posted and he is not indicating when making these manoeuvres. He refused to abide by the road rules at speed.’
Last May Fofana was disqualified at Lavender Hill Magistrates’ Court for speeding offences committed while driving his white 6.7 litre Rolls-Royce Cullinan, which retail at about £300,000 new.
He was also caught speeding in his blue 4.0 litre Audi and his Lamborghini Urus, which retail from £200,000.
On that occasion he received 38 penalty points – taking the total on his driving licence to 47.
He has since moved closer to Chelsea FC’s Cobham training ground, with his gated home just two miles away.
Judge Cooper today sentenced Fofana to an 18-month community order, which includes 300 hours community service, and ordered him to pay £85 costs and a £114 victim surcharge.
He was additionally disqualified from driving for 18 months, but was already barred from the roads until May 13 2027.
The judge added: ‘At the end of the disqualification you cannot drive until you pass an extended driving test and if you drive as a disqualified driver you will almost certainly be sent to prison and that is career-ending.
‘You need to attend your Probation Service appointments on time and comply with their satisfaction.
‘If you breach the order you will be back in front of me and I will have no hesitation in sending you to prison.’
Fofana’s lawyer Imogen Cox told the court: ‘The video speaks for itself – 15 to 20 seconds of driving that are conceded. There is no explanation or excuse for his driving on that day.’
The footage was played in court, showing Fofana undertaking other vehicles at speed, with gasps of disbelief from the occupants of the dash cam car also recorded.
Ms Cox added: ‘He attended voluntarily for an interview at Guildford Police Station and apologised for driving and said he had learned a valuable lesson about his driving and had no explanation for his driving on that day.
‘This offence pre-dates the speeding offences, which were all within a seven-month period and tied-up at Lavender Hill.
‘He is essentially of good character, having no criminal convictions against him. He is fit and healthy and able to carry out community work.’
Fofana has started only two Premier League matches this season, came on as a substitute in another and started one match each in both the Champions League and Carabao Cup.
The Marseille-born French national was previously fined a total of £5,328, plus a £2,131 victim surcharge for the Lavender Hill speeding offences.
The injury-plagued star won the 2021 FA Cup with Leicester City, before signing a seven-year contract with Chelsea in August the following year.
Fofana was also previously disqualified for six months in January 2023 for speeding offences.
