Derby County's Tom Lawrence and Mason Bennett have avoided a jail term after they appeared in court over the car crash on 24 September which ended Richard Keogh's season.
The pair pleaded guilty to drink-driving and failing to stop at the scene of a crash. Today, Judge Jonathan Taaffe banned them both from driving for two years, gave them a 12-month community order and ordered them to carry out 180 hours of unpaid work.
As reported by the Daily Mail, Taffee told the defendants:
You are extremely fortunate to be here today. You had been drinking and have been involved in a road traffic collision that could have led to death. You are both intelligent and talented young men who have brought shame upon yourselves, your family, your profession and your club.
The court heard how Lawrence's vehicle had crashed into the rear of Bennett's before crossing a roundabout and colliding with "street furniture." Following the crash the pair left the scene for between 15 to 45 minutes before returning, where they were then arrested.
Prosecutor Marianne Connally said that a paramedic crew had happened upon the crash "entirely by chance" and came to the aid of two passengers who were still at the scene. Lawrence recorded a breath test of of 58 microgrammes per 100ml while Bennett had a level of 64, with the legal limit being 35mcg per 100ml.
Judge Taffe said:
The aggravating factors of this matter are many. You had been drinking and you chose to drive when there was clearly no need to. An accident has occurred between the vehicles you were driving in unexplained circumstances.
The most aggravating factor of all is that you have left the scene when a fellow professional was injured in the back of one of the vehicles.
The readings in front of me in relation to drink driving are not the highest but it is fair to say they are considerably over the legal drink drive limit and you should have been nowhere near a motor vehicle.
He added: "This is an isolated blemish on your characters. And you have shown genuine remorse for what has taken place."
