X Factor Star Chico Slimani Convicted of Drink-Driving After Breaking Sobriety
Former X Factor contestant Chico Slimani has been found guilty of drink-driving after a trial where he revealed his arrest occurred hours after he broke his long-standing sobriety. The singer, now 55, told Willesden Magistrates' Court that he consumed Famous Grouse whisky for six hours following the devastating loss of a third friend to cancer.
Court Proceedings and Sentencing
Chico, whose real name is Yousseph Slimani, appeared in court wearing a maroon silk shirt and placing his signature cowboy hat on the table. He was convicted of driving a Vauxhall Astra with 40 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath in Chase Way, Southgate, on December 13. The legal limit is 35mg.
District Judge Mark Jabbitt ordered Slimani to pay a £600 fine, £240 surcharge, and £620 in costs. He was disqualified from driving for 12 months and offered a drink drivers' rehabilitation scheme that could reduce his disqualification period by a quarter if completed.
Emotional Testimony About Bereavement
During his evidence, Slimani explained that he drank whisky between 1am and 7am after learning of another friend's death from cancer. "It was after a third bereavement of one of my dearest friends, which was just devastating," he told the court. "All young people in their 50s with terminal cancers that have passed on – non-smokers, non-drinkers, several cancers – and basically are not here, sadly."
The singer, who reached the quarter finals of X Factor's 2005 series and later released the number one single "It's Chico Time," added: "On that fateful day, I'm teetotal, I don't drink, and it felt like I was going out of my mind, couldn't take it, so I drank." He confirmed he has not consumed alcohol since the incident.
Medication and Police Encounter
Slimani told the court he had taken Nyquil – a cold and flu medicine similar to Night Nurse – at 5:30pm for what he described as "a flu which you may call long Covid" that had been documented on his social media channels. He was pulled over by police at approximately 6:30pm that evening.
Arresting officer PC Yuksel testified that he noticed Slimani's "quite vivid" facial expressions that were "almost joyful" before detecting alcohol on his breath. "He was very animated with his facial features, they were very vivid and his demeanour seemed a bit – I don't know how best to describe it – but under the influence of alcohol," the officer said.
PC Yuksel added that when he asked if Slimani had consumed alcohol, "his demeanour changed to very defensive, from very happy and expressive to very defensive." The former X Factor contestant failed a breath test but was described as "calm and compliant" during his arrest.
Toxicology Evidence and Personal Circumstances
The court heard that Slimani's solicitors told toxicologist Sarah Morley he had consumed 810ml of Famous Grouse whisky and 30ml of Nyquil containing alcohol. Ms. Morley calculated the Nyquil would have contributed approximately 2mg per 100ml of alcohol on his breath, though she noted she couldn't verify the accuracy of the information provided.
Slimani brought to court a book he said he was writing at the time of the offence, titled "The Secret 19. Cancer Questions Worth Asking." He also revealed he has been heavily in debt and faced county court proceedings as a result.
Impact on Reputation and Career
The defendant expressed concern about the consequences of his arrest, telling the court: "My fears sadly have all come true – the press, the loss of my reputation, the loss of work – everything has happened, it has been a catastrophe." He explained he didn't inform police about taking Nyquil because "when I got arrested, and they were taking me to the police station, my mind was literally going at 600,000mph."
Judge Jabbitt acknowledged Slimani's bereavements but stated: "I am generally sympathetic to your bereavements but not to excessive drinking or taking medication without checking the effect it has on driving." The judge concluded: "It is inevitable that I will find the case proven."
