X Factor contestant Chico guilty of drink-driving

3 hours ago

Chico Slimani arrived at court wearing a cowboy hat and fur coat

PA Media Chico arriving at court, wearing a brown cowboy hat with a silver cattle head adornment. He wears a black furry coat with a black open shirt underneath — Chico Slimani arrived at court wearing a cowboy hat and fur coat

Former X Factor contestant Chico has been found guilty of drink-driving after telling a trial that his arrest came hours after he broke his sobriety.

Chico, whose real name is Yousseph Slimani, told Willesden Magistrates' Court that he drank Famous Grouse whisky for six hours after losing a third friend to cancer.

The singer, now 55, reached the quarter finals of the TV talent show's 2005 series and later released a number one single, It's Chico Time.

Slimani was convicted of driving with 40 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath in Southgate, north London, last December - the legal limit is 35mg. He was disqualified from driving for 12 months and fined.

Slimani released his single It's Chico Time in 2006 - it went to number one in the UK

Getty Images Chico Slimani poses for a portrait to celebrate of his debut single. He wears a watch and points at the camera — Slimani released his single It's Chico Time in 2006 - it went to number one in the UK

The court heard he has been heavily in debt and as a result faced county court proceedings.

During his evidence he wore a maroon silk shirt and placed his cowboy hat on the table in front.

He said he consumed whisky between 01:00 GMT and 07:00, and then a cold and flu medicine before he was pulled over at about 18:30 in the evening.

Slimani, of north London, told the court: "It was after a third bereavement of one of my dearest friends, which was just devastating.

"On that fateful day, I'm teetotal, I don't drink, and it felt like I was going out of my mind, couldn't take it, so I drank."

He later told the court he had not drunk alcohol since.

Slimani did not inform police when asked if he had consumed other drugs or medicines, and said this was "because when I got arrested, and they were taking me to the police station, my mind was literally going at 600,000 mph".

He later said his fears "sadly have all come true" and these were of "the press, the loss of my reputation, the loss of work – everything has happened, it has been a catastrophe".

Slimani was ordered to pay a £600 fine, £240 surcharge and £620 in costs by District Judge Mark Jabbitt.

He was offered a drink drivers' rehabilitation scheme that if completed will reduce his qualification by a quarter.

The judge said: "It is inevitable that I will find the case proven."

He added that he is "generally sympathetic" to Slimani's bereavements but not to excessive drinking or taking medication without checking the effect it has on driving.

Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to hello.bbclondon@bbc.co.uk