Ex-West Ham star Michail Antonio found guilty over Lamborghini incident in London

· Mirror

Footballer Michail Antonio has been found guilty of failing to identify the driver of his Lamborghini when it was suspected of involvement in a motoring offence in London

Former West Ham striker Michail Antonio has been found guilty of failing to identify the driver of his Lamborghini when it was involved in an incident in central London.

The footballer, aged 36, was charged by the Metropolitan Police with failing to assist an investigation when his car had been spotted being driven without due care and attention late at night in Pall Mall last November.

Antonio told Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court he was not the driver that night, having allowed his Lamborghini to be loaned out by his cousin while he was away in Manchester.

The star claimed he had not received the initial police letter, asking for the driver’s identity, suggesting it was lost in the post.

And he gave evidence that he was "shocked" to discover, in February, that he had been charged with a failure to identify the driver. Antonio told the west London court that he left his cousin to reply to the charge, believing he had also provided details of the guilty driver.

Today, magistrates found him guilty of failing to give information relating to the identification of the driver of a vehicle when required. Magistrate Ian Comfort said the panel was sure the police letter had arrived, and found that Antonio had failed to respond according to the legal requirements.

The former West Ham player has six penalty points on his licence as he was convicted of driving without insurance in July last year. He could now receive an automatic driving ban.

Antonio was the registered keeper of the Lamborghini Urus at the time of the incident on Pall Mall at 12.38am on November 5 last year. The Metropolitan Police then wrote to him on November 12 to seek the identity of the driver but when a response was not received, a criminal prosecution was started.

Giving evidence, Antonio said he was visiting his children in Manchester from November 3 to 6 last year, and said he had handed over the keys to the Lamborghini to Tarique Josephs who runs a company loaning out cars. He said he called Mr Josephs in February after receiving a notice of the criminal charge.

"I was in shock", Antonio said, of his reaction to finding out he was being prosecuted. He continued: "How can I be charged with something I haven’t done? This is the first time I was aware of that."

He gave evidence that Mr Josephs "rents my car every now and then", telling the court: "When someone calls up for a Lamborghini, he will call me and say can I use your Lamborghini.

> "I worked out he had the car at the time, he has come across to me to collect the forms, and said he would send the details."

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