logo
‘I have let a lot of people down' – Champion jockey apologises for drink-driving

‘I have let a lot of people down' – Champion jockey apologises for drink-driving

Yahooa day ago
Champion jockey Oisin Murphy has apologised after a judge fined him £70,000 for crashing a car into a tree while drink-driving earlier this year.
Murphy, 29, drove his grey Mercedes A-Class off the road and into a tree in Hermitage, West Berkshire, at about 12.05am on April 27.
He was also banned from driving for a period of 20 months after pleading guilty at Reading Magistrates' Court on Thursday to one count of driving a motor vehicle while over the prescribed limit of alcohol.
Murphy, who was with a passenger at the time, published a statement on Thursday evening in which he apologised for the offence.
'I would like to sincerely apologise for my actions,' he wrote.
'I know that drink driving is unacceptable and there is no excuse for what I did.
'I have let a lot of people down. I particularly want to apologise to my passenger and her family.
'I have so far been able to share only minimal details of my offence with the British Horseracing Authority as a result of the police investigation.
'I will now be fully co-operative with their enquiries.
'It would not be appropriate for me to comment further until that process is concluded.'
Murphy, of Beales Farm Road, Lambourn, Hungerford, was taken to hospital after the crash, along with his passenger.
He was later discharged to take a breathalyser test at a police station at about 7am, which showed a reading of 66mg per 100 millilitres of breath.
This meant he was 'just shy of twice above the drink-driving limit' at the time of driving, prosecutor Richard Atkins told the court earlier on Thursday.
Murphy – who rode five winners at Royal Ascot last month – received a £70,000 fine, with a £2,000 surcharge and £85 in costs.
The figure was calculated based on his annual earnings, which the court heard are in the region of £250,000 a year, in addition to a weekly salary of £1,250.
The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) said Murphy will remain free to continue riding, but new conditions are likely to be added to his licence as a result of his conviction.
'Everyone at the BHA, like all involved in our sport, is disappointed today having learned the details of the offence to which Oisin Murphy has pleaded guilty,' a spokesperson for the BHA said in a statement.
'This is a very serious offence that, in the course of being committed, saw Mr Murphy jeopardise not only his own safety but that of his passenger and all other people travelling on the roads at the same time as him that night.
'His conduct fell a long way short of the standard we expect of all licensed individuals, in whom we place trust that they will represent our sport to the best of their abilities, upholding our collective reputation and ensuring racing is a safe place for all.
'In light of Mr Murphy's guilty plea and the information revealed in court today, we will be working on the addition of new conditions on his licence that may be referred to the Licensing Committee for their consideration.
'As has been the case in recent weeks, Mr Murphy remains free to take up his riding engagements.'
The BHA added: 'We will issue an update on this process in due course and will be making no further comment at this time.'
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Controversial businessman Stephen Vaughan dies as son hails 'best man I've ever known'
Controversial businessman Stephen Vaughan dies as son hails 'best man I've ever known'

Yahoo

time10 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Controversial businessman Stephen Vaughan dies as son hails 'best man I've ever known'

Controversial Liverpool businessman Stephen Vaughan has died, his son has announced. The former football club owner's death was announced by his son, of the same name, in a Facebook post. Stephen Vaughan Jr, a former Liverpool reserves player, posted on social media: "Absolutely devastated the best man I've ever known RIP Dad our hero." Vaughan's football legacy is controversial after her bought Chester in 2001 from American Terry Smith and oversaw the club's promotion back to the Football League in 2004. The club ran into financial difficulty and collapsed into administration with debts of £8 million following relegation in 2009 – the same year Mr Vaughan also became the first owner to fail the Football Association's 'fit and proper person' test. READ MORE: Live updates as main road shut after police incident READ MORE: Woman who collapsed in holiday hotel room given devastating news It came after he had six fraud charges involving deception and obtaining high value cars dropped at Liverpool Crown Court in March 2008 while still serving as Chester City owner. They were alleged to have occurred between March, 2005, and March, 2006. The Liverpool-born businessman was also over the years a boxing promoter, a director of rugby league club Widnes Vikings and owner and chairman of Barrow. In late 2009 Mr Vaughan was disqualified from acting as the director of any company for 11 years following his involvement in an alleged £500,000 VAT fraud while he was owner of Widnes Vikings. Posting on Facebook, Liverpool-born former boxer Derry Mathews wrote: "They say he only takes the best and he's taking one of the greatest men ever, my first ever manager who got George out of retirement to train me, thank you for everything Ste people in the boxing world are going miss you. "No one could do a prep talk before a fight like you, you would have me wanting to walk through walls and with you by my side in changing rooms we could beat anyone. Gutted for my mate @stephen_vaughan_85, Pat and all the family on the loss. Goodnight God bless Ste." Mr Vaughan also bought Maltese club Floriana in April 2012 with his son, who captained Chester during his father's ownership and was appointed president soon after. The Vaughan family ended its association with Floriana in February 2014 but continued to have an involvement in Maltese football as sponsors of Mosta and Hibernians. The off-duty policeman died after he was struck in Colquitt Street in the early hours of Friday, December 19. His son's Facebook post was filled with tributes from friends and family, with many simply posting 'RIP' and broken heart emojis, while another said: 'So sorry to hear this sad news Ste, condolences to you and the family'. A second added: 'Condolences to the family Ste! What a gent your dad was!' And a third said: 'So sorry to hear this awful news about your Dad RIP. Sending my deepest sympathy and condolences and prayers to you and all your beautiful family.'

Man who urged vulnerable woman to kill herself and self-harm given hybrid order
Man who urged vulnerable woman to kill herself and self-harm given hybrid order

Yahoo

time14 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Man who urged vulnerable woman to kill herself and self-harm given hybrid order

A man who persistently urged a vulnerable woman to kill herself and self-harm during video calls for his own sexual pleasure has been handed a prison sentence of nine years and four months. Tyler Webb, 23, repeatedly told his victim to end her life during weeks of what she called 'calculated psychological violence' because he wanted to watch her die on a video call. The defendant, of King Crescent South in Loughborough, was the first person in the country to be charged with encouraging serious self-harm online under Section 184 of the Online Safety Act 2023, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said. He pleaded guilty in May to that charge and a separate charge of encouraging suicide between June 22 and July 11 last year. Handing Webb the hybrid order, meaning he will begin his sentence in hospital until he is deemed fit for prison, at Leicester Crown Court on Friday, Judge Timothy Spencer KC agreed that 'very largely' Webb was motivated by sexual gratification. He said: 'Your persuasion extended over a substantial period of time. The two of you were not in any sort of suicide pact – it was always you hang yourself for my pleasure.' Webb, with long black hair and wearing a blue t-shirt, sat in the dock with his head bowed down and hands clasped over his ears before hiding underneath his chair, where he remained for most of the hearing. He did not respond when asked to confirm his name. Prosecutor Louise Oakley said the woman, who cannot be named, met Webb on a Reddit forum where people shared mental health support, before the pair started video calling on the Telegram app where they would have conversations which were 'dark in nature'. Ms Oakley told the court that when Webb encouraged her to harm herself, 'in (the victim's) words, he loved it. Tyler Webb told her it turned him on'. Telling the court about Webb urging the woman to kill herself, Ms Oakley said: 'He told her he wanted her to do it during a video call so he could watch. He would berate her and say she had nothing to live for and she should die.' The court heard on one occasion Webb watched the woman attempt suicide by hanging, and when it failed he told her to try again. The woman contacted the police on July 3 last year because she feared Webb would encourage someone else to harm themselves after he asked her to 'sacrifice' herself, and he was arrested a week later. In a victim impact statement read aloud to the court by Ms Oakley, the woman wrote: 'I don't want to call this encouraging serious self-harm or suicide, I want to call this what it is – an attempted murder through psychological means. 'What Tyler did was not a mistake, it was calculated psychological violence. He didn't try to kill me with his hands but with his words. 'He had no turmoil while torturing me. He told me that my only value was in dying for his entertainment. 'I'm alive, but the life I have left is altered forever. My life is ruined – my mind and body have been severely damaged.' Ms Oakley told the court: '(Webb's) user profile on Reddit was identified as u/EmpathicNarcissist and a review of the account revealed numerous anime or gaming characters in various erotic poses with fatal injuries. All of the characters were female.' The prosecutor said the fact Webb refused to turn on his own camera during his video calls with the woman suggests he had insight that 'what he was doing was wrong and he was in effect looking out for himself, not her'. Ms Oakley told the court: 'We submit his offending involved pre-meditation, persistence and extensive encouragement and advice. He pressurised her and was at times unpleasant. 'Importantly, it appears he was sexually motivated and genuinely wanted to see her die. He knew her vulnerabilities, her previous traumas and knew she had previously attempted suicide.' Defence barrister Joey Kwong said Webb was in a 'dark time' with his mental health and 'wrongly he adopted such warped behaviour and distorted thinking' from material he saw online. The court heard that the defendant has been diagnosed with mental health disorders including autistic spectrum disorder (ASD), obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), and anxiety and depressive disorders, which have a 'significant impact on his life'. Dr Ajith Gurusinghe, a treating clinician for Webb who has been in hospital because he is 'unable to cope in the prison regime', told the court the defendant has 'shown some remorse but not completely'. Webb was also made subject of a restraining order during the hearing. Detective Constable Lauren Hampton, of Leicestershire Police, said: 'This case is not only truly shocking but also deeply concerning. 'Webb preyed upon a vulnerable woman at a time when she was reaching out to people in an online forum for help and support. 'He quickly gained her trust and then he began with his barrage of vile requests – all the time knowing that what he was telling her to do could result in her ending her own life. Thankfully, this did not happen, and the victim was able to report what had happened.' Alex Johnson, a specialist crown prosecutor in the Special Crime Division of the Crown Prosecution Service, said: 'Tyler Webb contacted a vulnerable woman online and encouraged her to commit serious self-harm and to end her life by hanging. 'He knew she was vulnerable and would act on his requests but went ahead with his persistent requests knowing she may well die. 'Fortunately, his repeated and insistent suggestions did not result in a death.' – The Samaritans can be contacted anonymously on 116123 or email jo@

18-year-old arrested on suspicion of drug dealing in the town centre
18-year-old arrested on suspicion of drug dealing in the town centre

Yahoo

time34 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

18-year-old arrested on suspicion of drug dealing in the town centre

Police have arrested an 18-year-old man on suspicion of drug dealing in the town centre. Officers on patrol in Bolton town centre spotted a man who they suspected to be involved in drug supply. After seeing the officers, the man ran away - dropping suspected class A drugs in the process. Police caught up to the man and arrested him - as well as recovering the items he had dropped. The 18-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of possession of suspected class A drugs with intent to supply. He is being held in police custody for questioning. An 18-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of dealing in the town centre (Image: Bolton Council) READ MORE: Leigh drug dealer with 'no remorse' stabbed man to death READ MORE: Leigh: Woman arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder READ MORE: Brothers assaulted police at Manchester Airport, jury told A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said: "Whilst on patrol in Bolton Town Centre, officers from the South Neighbourhood Team spotted a male they suspected may be involved in drug supply. "Upon spotting our officers, he made off, dropping suspected class A drugs and attempting to evade us. "Unfortunately for him PC Golding & PC Charlesworth were quicker - he was detained a few moments later, and the discarded items recovered. "A male, aged 18, was arrested on suspicion of possession of suspected class A drugs with intent to supply. "He remains in custody for questioning."

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store