Newcastle United midfielder, Joelinton has admitted to drinking and driving and was punished with a £29,000 fine and a driving ban.
On January 12, at 01:30 GMT, police stopped the Brazilian player’s Mercedes G-Wagen in Ponteland Road, Newcastle, and pulled it over.
The 26-year-old received a reading of 43 micrograms of alcohol per 100 milliliters of breath, which was over the permissible limit of 35.
District judge Paul Currer imposed a one-year driving restriction on him while he presided over Newcastle Magistrates’ Court. If Joelinton successfully completes a rehabilitation program, this period will be shortened to nine months.
The footballer’s weekly salary was listed in records as £43,000. In addition to the sentence, the judge ordered him to pay a £2,000 surcharge and £85 in expenses. Joelinton’s early admission of guilt and cooperation with law enforcement, according to him, convinced him of his remorse.
“You placed yourself in real jeopardy and it could have had disastrous consequences for the lives of others,” he told the player. I sincerely hope you have learned from this mistake and we don’t see you in this court again.”
The footballer’s car was noticed by cops near St James’ Park on a high speed, according to prosecutor Jonathan Stirland, and the driver was asked to halt.
According to the testimony given in court, the man’s roadside breath test result of 50 micrograms per 100 ml of breath dropped to 43 micrograms in one of two follow-up tests conducted at the Forth Banks police station.
The footballer, who gave officers his name as Joelinton Cassio and said he was from Ponteland, Northumberland, admitted to drinking two glasses of wine earlier that evening.
He later apologised to fans saying he was “truly sorry” and would try to “learn the lessons” from the incident and be a “role model”.
Despite Joelinton’s attorney telling the court he would face disciplinary action at the club, Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe did not bench the midfielder following the incident.
The player, who joined the team for £40 million in 2019, has played a significant role in the team’s success and on Monday, he scored the game-winning goal against Southampton in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semifinal.
He was previously fined £200 after he broke lockdown restrictions to get a haircut.