Michail Antonio banned from driving for six months

Footballer Michail Antonio has been banned from driving for six months after being convicted of failing to identify the driver of his Lamborghini. The conviction followed an offence in Pall Mall, central London, on November 5 last year. Antonio, 36, was fined £1,000 and ordered to pay £650 in prosecution costs and a £400 victim surcharge.

The offence and court proceedings

The Metropolitan Police charged Antonio with failing to assist an investigation after his car was seen being driven without due care and attention. Antonio told Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court that he was not the driver that night, stating he had loaned his Lamborghini to his cousin. He claimed he had not received the initial police letter requesting the driver’s identity, suggesting it was lost in the post. After a short trial, magistrates found Antonio guilty of failing to provide information relating to the identification of the driver when required. Magistrate Ian Comfort stated that the court was sure the police letter had been sent to Antonio’s home and he had failed to respond as legally required.

Antonio already had six penalty points on his licence from a previous conviction for driving without insurance in July 2025. The new conviction added a further six points, resulting in an automatic six-month disqualification. The court heard that Antonio was the registered keeper of the Lamborghini Urus involved in the incident. The Metropolitan Police had written to him on November 12 last year to request the driver’s identity and commenced prosecution when no response was received.

Defence arguments and evidence

Giving evidence, Antonio stated he was visiting his children in Manchester from November 3 to 6 last year and had given the keys to the Lamborghini to Tarique Josephs, who runs a car loaning company. He said he contacted Mr Josephs in February after receiving notice of the criminal charge, expressing shock at being prosecuted. Antonio told the court that Mr Josephs rents his car periodically and had collected the necessary forms, promising to send the details. Mr Josephs testified that he had completed the response to the prosecution, entering a not guilty plea and explaining the car had been on loan. He claimed to have included a copy of the loan agreement with his postal response. Antonio’s girlfriend, Sunita Bains, gave evidence that she handles the mail at their Buckinghamshire home and did not believe the initial police letter had arrived.

Further accusations and career context

Antonio is also accused of failing to respond to West Midlands police regarding a speeding offence involving the same Lamborghini. He is scheduled to stand trial for that charge in March. Antonio’s football career was previously impacted in December 2024 when he suffered a broken leg in a car crash in Epping Forest, Essex. The injury required three weeks in hospital and over six months of recovery.