Footballer who killed pair while speeding handed road ban for drink-driving

‘I will probably get called every named under the sun and I deserve it’

Former Manchester City youth player Courtney Meppen-Walter has been banned from driving for 22 months (PA)

An ex-Manchester City youth team player who killed two people while speeding has been given a 22-month ban after he was caught drink-driving.

Courtney Meppen-Walter, 24, told a court he was “embarrassed” after being found more than twice over the legal limit.

He went drinking with friends at a Christmas market on 10 December and his car was later spotted on CCTV swerving in the road.

It came six years after Meppen-Walter, who previously played for City’s youth side as well as the England Under-18 team, killed a brother and sister through careless driving.

Kulwant Singh, 32, from Salford, and his sister, Ravel Kaur, 37, died after Meppen-Walter smashed into their Nissan Micra in a high-powered Mercedes saloon car having been “jockeying” and “playing games” with a friend in another vehicle.

The footballer was jailed for 16 months the following year.

On Wednesday, the now part-time professional player and coach was back in court for the drink-driving offence committed in the early hours of 10 December.

Meppen-Walter had met friends at the city’s Christmas markets and intended to have just one drink but consumed several, Manchester Magistrates’ Court heard.

CCTV operators later alerted police when the defendant’s Kia Picanto was seen swerving in the road. The vehicle appeared to strike the kerb and was stalled at a red light in Great Bridgewater Street when a police officer approached, the court heard.

Risha Seth, prosecuting, said the officer stated he had to remove Meppen-Walter from the car because he would not get out and then needed help from two passers-by as he restrained him. Ms Seth said the officer thought the defendant was drunk.

Meppen-Walter was arrested and taken to a police station where he was found with 85mcg of alcohol per 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35mcg.

The court was told that the father-of-one – who pleaded guilty last month – agreed with the evidence of the case but claimed he did not resist arrest as described.

A pre-sentence probation report noted his drink-driving reflected “poor judgment” when considering his previous conviction and that “again he has failed to consider the consequences of his actions”.

Caitriona McLaughlin, defending, said: “The most significant mitigation in this case is his genuine remorse which has been reflected throughout. He is truly sorry for his actions. It was a mistake and it is the one and only drink mistake on his record.”

The court heard that alcohol had played no part in the killing of Mr Singh and Ms Kaur, who had come to the UK from Afghanistan in 2001 to start a new life after fleeing persecution by the Taliban.

Before passing sentence, chairwoman of the bench Margaret Hutchinson asked Meppen-Walter if he wanted to say anything about the current case.

He replied: “I know what you are probably thinking and what everyone else is thinking. I will probably get called every named under the sun and I deserve it. I’m just embarrassed.”

Mrs Hutchinson said: “We hope this will be a lesson to you and we will not see you in court again.

“Drink-driving is a very serious matter and the consequences could have been much graver than today.”

Meppen-Walter must serve a 12-month community order, complete 80 hours of unpaid work and pay court costs totalling £170.

He indicated he wanted to take a drink-drive awareness course which would reduce his ban by 22 weeks.

Meppen-Walter, of Kirkstall Avenue, Heywood, was signed by Carlisle United after completing his custodial sentence and is currently playing for Chorley FC in the National League North.

Additional reporting by PA