X Factor Star Chico Slimani Convicted of Drink-Driving in London Court
Former X Factor contestant Chico Slimani has been found guilty of drink-driving, resulting in a 12-month driving disqualification and a £600 fine plus court costs. The 55-year-old singer, whose real name is Yousseph Slimani, appeared at Willesden Magistrates Court on Thursday, where he explained that his arrest occurred hours after he broke a period of sobriety following three devastating bereavements.
Emotional Testimony Reveals Personal Struggles
Slimani told the court he had consumed whisky for approximately six hours after learning that a third close friend had died from cancer. He also admitted taking cold and flu medication NyQuil, which he described as treatment for "a flu which you may call long Covid," before being pulled over by police around 6:30 PM on December 13 in Southgate, north London.
"It was after a third bereavement of one of my dearest friends, which was just devastating," Slimani testified, according to PA Media reports. "On that fateful day – I'm teetotal, I don't drink – and it felt like I was going out of my mind, I couldn't take it, so I drank."
The singer emphasized that he has not consumed alcohol since the incident, maintaining his previous commitment to sobriety.
Court Proceedings and Sentencing Details
District Judge Mark Jabbitt presided over the case, ordering Slimani to pay the £600 fine along with additional costs while offering him a place on a drink-drivers' rehabilitation scheme. The court also heard that Slimani had been facing significant financial difficulties, including county court proceedings related to substantial debt.
Judge Jabbitt expressed general sympathy for Slimani's bereavement situation but made clear he showed no leniency toward excessive drinking or taking medication without considering its potential effects on driving ability.
Impact on Career and Reputation
Slimani, who reached the quarter-finals of X Factor in 2005 and later released the chart-topping single "It's Chico Time," described the incident as profoundly damaging to his personal and professional life.
"When I got to the police station all I could think of was the implications of me being arrested for something that goes completely against what I am and what I do," Slimani told the court, referencing his history of sobriety and charitable activities.
The singer characterized the event as "a catastrophe" that resulted in "the loss of my reputation, the loss of work," highlighting the significant consequences beyond the legal penalties imposed by the court.
