ZB ZB
Opinion
Live now
Start time
Playing for
End time
Listen live
Listen to NAME OF STATION
Up next
Listen live on
ZB

'I apologise': Israel Adesanya in court on drink driving charge

Author
George Block and Isaac Davison, NZ Herald,
Publish Date
Mon, 25 Sept 2023, 10:34am

'I apologise': Israel Adesanya in court on drink driving charge

Author
George Block and Isaac Davison, NZ Herald,
Publish Date
Mon, 25 Sept 2023, 10:34am

UFC superstar Israel Adesanya has pleaded guilty to drink driving.

Adesanya arrived at the Auckland District Court about 9am with his lawyer and two personal security staff.

Court documents show the international star was charged with driving a car on Wellesley St in Auckland Central with 87 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood. The legal limit is 80 milligrams.

Israel Adesanya after pleading guilty to driving over the legal alcohol limit. Photo / Dean Purcell

Israel Adesanya after pleading guilty to driving over the legal alcohol limit. Photo / Dean Purcell

“I want to apologise to the community, my family and my team for the decision I made to get behind the wheel after drinking at dinner,” Adesanya said in a statement provided to the Herald.

“I was pulled over and gave an evidentiary blood test - the reading was 87 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood.”

He added: “I am disappointed with my decision to drive, It was wrong.

“I know that people might follow me and I want them to know I do not think this behaviour is acceptable.”

The maximum penalty for the charge is a term of imprisonment of three months or a fine of $4500.

Israel Adesanya pleaded guilty to drink driving at the Auckland District Court. Photo / Dean Purcell

Israel Adesanya pleaded guilty to drink driving at the Auckland District Court. Photo / Dean Purcell

The date of the alleged offence is August 19 this year.

The 34-year-old is listed on court documents as living in a flat in Remuera’s Victoria Ave.

His blood alcohol result indicates he was only a shade over the threshold for being charged.

His lawyer Karl Trotter sought that no conviction be entered, and this was granted by the judge.

Adesanya will be sentenced on January 10.

He did not respond to questions from the Herald upon leaving the court through a rear exit.

Take your Radio, Podcasts and Music with you