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Birmingham City star Marvin Ducksch has been told he is lucky to be alive after causing a serious three-car crash while over the drink-drive limit.<\/p>\n
The German international was told he was lucky he had not killed himself and two female drivers in the late-night crash as he was ordered to pay the victims \u00a31,000 each in compensation.<\/p>\n
Leamington Spa Magistrates\u2019 Court heard Ducksch stopped at the scene and checked on the other motorists, one of whom had a nosebleed and injuries to her forehead and thumb.<\/p>\n
The 32-year-old pleaded guilty on Wednesday to driving his Mercedes with excess alcohol, namely 53mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath, above the legal limit of 35mcg.<\/p>\n
Magistrates were told the charge related to a collision on the A3400 near Henley-in-Arden in Warwickshire at around 10.30pm on Easter Monday.<\/p>\n
The crash happened hours after Ducksch had appeared as a substitute in Birmingham\u2019s 2-1 defeat to Ipswich Town at Portman Road.<\/p>\n
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In a prepared statement to police, the court heard, Ducksch said he was driving home and admitted \u2018he did have alcohol before he drove\u2019 and had \u2018clipped an oncoming car and another one following behind\u2019 (PA)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nProsecutor Lina Akther told the court: \u201cThe defendant identified himself to the officers and confirmed he was involved in the collision.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe defendant stated to the officers that he was driving and he went to change his music and crashed and he wasn\u2019t sure how.\u201d<\/p>\n
As a result of the crash Ducksch, who also claimed to have been avoiding a tree branch in the road, was arrested and breath-tested.<\/p>\n
In a prepared statement to police, the court heard, Ducksch said he was driving home and admitted \u201che did have alcohol before he drove\u201d and had \u201cclipped an oncoming car and another one following behind\u201d.<\/p>\n
Ms Akther said: \u201cHe thought he would be under the limit and the defendant was apologetic in his prepared statement.\u201d<\/p>\n
Magistrates handed Ducksch a 14-month driving ban alongside a fine of \u00a316,155, a total of \u00a32,000 in compensation, a \u00a32,000 surcharge and a bill for costs of \u00a385.<\/p>\n
The court agreed to allow Ducksch to pay off the total amount of \u00a320,240 at a rate of \u00a32,000 per month.<\/p>\n
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Birmingham City striker Marvin Ducksch (left) arriving at Leamington Spa Magistrates Court to answer a charge of drink-driving brought after a three-vehicle crash in Warwickshire (PA)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nImposing the fines, chairman of the bench John Kiely told the footballer, who lives in Solihull: \u201cThank you very much for your patience while we have been talking about this offence.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe heard that there was an incident in which two vehicles were clipped.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have looked at the photographs (of the damaged cars).<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can consider yourself lucky first of all that you weren\u2019t killed and secondly that the other drivers weren\u2019t killed.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s how serious this matter is.\u201d<\/p>\n
During mitigation, defence solicitor Julia Morgan said Ducksch, whose former clubs include Werder Bremen and Borussia Dortmund, had a promising career ahead of him.<\/p>\n
Ms Morgan told the three magistrates during the 20-minute hearing: \u201cIt\u2019s abundantly clear that damage was caused to those vehicles and the lady concerned was injured during the course of this.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ducksch was comprehensively insured and the damage would be covered by the policy, she said.<\/p>\n
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The crash happened hours after Ducksch had appeared as a substitute in Birmingham\u2019s 2-1 defeat to Ipswich Town at Portman Road (PA)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nMs Morgan added: \u201cMr Ducksch waited at the scene for the police.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey didn\u2019t arrive immediately but he waited and he checked on the welfare of the occupants of the other vehicles.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe is currently a young man who plays as a professional footballer for Birmingham City Football Club.<\/p>\n
\u201cNot only is he going to be subject to the sentence that you impose today \u2013 from a financial point of view he has also been penalised by Birmingham City for his actions that night.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe has been penalised financially and further by not being permitted to play in a number of matches following this incident.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat illustrates how seriously incidents of this nature are taken.\u201d<\/p>\n
The lawyer continued: \u201cThey (the club) have provided references.<\/p>\n
\u201cI hope you have had the opportunity to see them and read them.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn essence they talk about a man of impeccable character in his conduct towards his team, his managers and the club itself.<\/p>\n
\u201cI myself have found him to be a most polite young man.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s very unfortunate he has found himself in this position, now having a conviction from the courts.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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