Disgraced ex-Manchester City footballer who went to prison for killing a brother and sister in a road smash is facing jail again after he was caught drink driving following a night out at a Christmas market
- Courtney Meppen-Walter, 24, was more than twice over the legal alcohol limit when arrested in Manchester city centre on Monday night
- Police officers witnessed former Man City defender crash his Fiat Picanto into the kerb and stall at traffic lights
- When pulled over, Meppen-Walter had to be dragged out of the car by officers
- He was jailed for 16 months in 2013 for causing two deaths by careless driving
- Footballer was ‘showboating’ in a Mercedes when he ploughed into Nissan Micra, killing Kulwant Singh, 32, and his sister Ravel Kaur, 37
- Meppen-Walter served just four months of his sentence and returned to game
A former Manchester City footballer who went to prison for killing a brother and sister in a car crash is facing jail again after he was caught drink driving following a night out at a Christmas market.
Courtney Meppen-Walter, 24, was found to be more than twice the legal alcohol limit when arrested on Monday following a 3am altercation with a police officer in Manchester city centre.
Officers pulled their patrol car in front of the former England youth team captain’s Fiat Picanto after witnessing him crash into a kerb and then stall the vehicle at a set of red traffic lights.
Former Manchester City footballer Courtney Meppen-Walter, 24, is facing jail again after being caught drink-driving following a visit to a Christmas market in the city
When stopped, Meppen-Walter refused to get out of the car and had to be dragged out. He was said to have resisted the officer and had to be pulled to the floor with the help of two passers-by.
In February 2013, Meppen-Walter, then 18, was jailed for 16 months after a silver Mercedes Elegance CDI car he was ‘showboating in’ ploughed into a red Nissan Micra while travelling nearly twice the 30mph speed limit.
The crash in Cheetham Hill, Manchester claimed the lives of Kulwant Singh, 32, who was driving the Micra and his 37-year-old sister Ravel Kaur who was a front seat passenger.
Mrs Maur’s two sons, Amjid and Parveen, aged 16 and 17 respectively, were sat in the back and left fighting for their lives after sustaining serious injuries.
Despite this, Meppen-Walter was released after serving just four months of his sentence.
At the time he posted a message on social media saying: ‘I wish there was a switch I could click. To turn back time. And take back everything that happened – Amen.’
Meppen-Walter in action for non-league club Chorley during an FA Cup match last month
But on Friday the defender, who now plays for non-league club Chorley, is facing up to six months in prison after admitting driving with excess alcohol in his system and with the front wheel cord on his tyre exposed.
He will be sentenced in the New Year following the preparation of reports. He appeared in court from police cells but was freed on unconditional bail.
Meppen-Walter, wearing a grey jumper and jeans, held his head in his hands while lawyers discussed his previous driving history.
Prosecutor Miss Laura Keegan said: ‘At 3.20am the defendant’s vehicle was seen in the city centre on CCTV swerving in the road at the Great Bridgewater Street Junction In Deansgate.
‘He then hit the kerb and was halted by red lights where the car stalled. Officers attended the scene in a police vehicle, parked the vehicle in front of the defendants car across the junction, blocking his exit.
‘The driver, this defendant, revved his engine and when the officer came over the the driver’s door, he said he could smell an intoxicating drink.
‘The defendant was asked to exit the car. He refused and the officer hauled him from the vehicle.
‘The defendant wasn’t listening to the officer and was resisting him so the officer tackled him to the floor and was assisted by two members of the public.
‘He was asked to provide a sample of breath by the officer but said he was unable to do so as he had just eaten, so he was taken to the local police station where he provided two samples of breath.
Meppen-Walter was ‘showboating’ in a Mercedes when he ploughed into a Nissan Micra in 2013 and caused the deaths of Kulwant Singh, 32 and his sister Ravel Kaur, 37
‘After the car hit the kerb, the tyre’s cord was exposed. He does have one previous conviction in 2013 for death by careless driving.’.
Tests showed Meppen-Walter of Heywood, Rochdale, had 85 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35mg.
His lawyer Miss Leveene Hill said: ‘As soon as he was asked to pull over he did so but he was nervous due to his previous conviction and his previous involvement with the police.
‘He tells me he had attended the Christmas markets with friends. He had no intention of consuming any alcohol but he does admit he decided to partake in the consumption. He then tells me he got into a mood and drove home. He didn’t consider whether he was over the limit or what would have happened.
‘The police pulled him over and when the police asked him to provide a sample of breath he did so. His initial response was of shock in reference to his previous police involvement.
‘You know of his previous, he went to a Young Offenders Institution. He was a young man at the time. There has been no other offending.
‘He was arrested shortly after 3.20am and he has been in custody for a significant period of time.’
Meppen-Walter pictured arriving for his original trial for causing death by careless driving
Adjourning the case Deputy District Judge Alexandra Simmonds said: ‘He has previous for a very serious driving offence relating to somebody’s death.’
She told the footballer: ‘Mr Meppen-Walter, you pleaded guilty and you will get credit in due course. But the court needs more information about you before I decide what to do with you. All options will be considered.’
Meppen-Walter began his career with Man City but was released by the club followng his conviction for two charges of causing death by careless driving.
After his release from jail he joined Football League club Carlisle United in December 2013 and then played for Stockport County, Glossop North End and Chorley.
His criminal trial was told how the double death crash in September 2012 occurred just five months after Meppen-Walker was caught speeding at 54mph in another 30mph zone in Bury.
The former £1,000-a-week defender, who represented England at under-17 level, was travelling in convoy with a friend in a VW Golf.
He had been to a Shisha bar in Rusholme, Manchester with friends and went home to get ready to head out to One Central bar in the city centre.
He was driving a Mercedes Elegance CDI whilst friends were in a VW Golf and the two cars were ‘jockeying’ around for position – accelerating and swapping lanes.
Observers said the cars were also slowing down, possibly for speed cameras and their driving was erratic.
Mr Singh was driving his sister and her children home from a Sikh temple and was due to return to collect his wife and their two children, aged one and three.
He pulled out out a side road and into the path of the Mercedes which driving an average of 56mph in a 30mph.
The footballer swerved from left to right then braked but could not avoid the impact. One witness said Meppen-Walter stayed at the scene and was showing remorse especially when he saw the children and he tried to help.
He later claimed his ‘lack of driving experience contributed to a likelihood of a collision’ but said the Nissan emerged unexpectedly from the side road.
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