TV star Ant ‘held for drink-driving after he hit 2 cars’
TROUBLED television presenter Ant McPartlin was arrested on suspicion of drink- driving after allegedly crashing into two cars yesterday afternoon.
Witnesses claim the 42-year-old Saturday Night Takeaway star became ‘agitated and argumentative’ with a police officer as she arrested him at around 4pm in south west London.
Police also said a child was taken to hospital for a checkup after the crash.
According to The Sun, the star was heading home with his mother Christine after walking their dogs, when he allegedly lost control of his black Mini sports car. It is thought his vehicle may have veered into the wrong lane after coming round a sharp bend.
McPartlin’s car then reportedly hit a green Mini, before colliding with a BMW X5. Witnesses claimed a family had been in the green Mini, which was left with its front end ‘completely smashed in’.
And a young girl, aged around six or seven, was seen crying and being comforted by her mother.
One onlooker told The Sun that McPartlin looked ‘really, really traumatised’ and ‘unsteady on his feet’.
They added that all the airbags had been triggered inside his Mini and the star, who was wearing a black jacket and wellies, ‘looked awful’.
The witness, who did not give their name, added: ‘He looked as though he’d been walking his dog because he was walking around the wreckage holding a lead.
‘There was a woman in the car with him, who I presumed to be his mum, plus two dogs.’
Witness Jake Spencer claimed that the TV star rowed with officers as they tried to put him in a police car, after he failed a breath test at the crash scene. He told the newspaper: ‘Ant looked in a right state and was acting argumentatively toward a policewoman. The woman was trying to arrest him and get him in the police car but he clearly wasn’t having it. He was not making it easy for her and he seemed to be trying to wriggle out of her clutches.
Mr Spencer added: ‘ He was not in a good way. Eventually she got him in the police car. There were about six or seven police cars in total.’ A spokes- man for the Met Police said: ‘ Police in Richmond were called to Lower Richmond Road, SW14 at 15:59hrs on Sunday, 18 March following reports of a road traffic collision involving three vehicles. Officers, London Ambulance Service and London Fire Brigade attended.
‘A number of individuals were treated at the scene for minor injuries only. A child passenger from one of the cars has been taken to hospital for a check up as a precaution.’
The spokesman added: ‘A 42year-old man was arrested at the scene on suspicion of drinkdriving after failing a roadside breathalyser test. He has been taken to a south London police station for questioning. Enquiries continue. Roads are expected to reopen shortly.’
Less than 24 hours before the arrest, McPartlin had been presenting ITV’s Takeaway show, with long-term TV partner Declan Donnelly. The presenter, who also hosts Britain’s Got Talent, is thought to be worth around £60million.
But the star has endured a series of personal blows in recent months. Last year he checked into rehab to receive treatment for a painkiller addiction. He went on to admit that ‘ botched’ knee surgery two years ago had led to his issues with Tramadol.
He also confessed to drinking heavily while battling depression and he is currently separated from his wife of 11 years Lisa Armstrong. He returned to TV last autumn for I’m a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here.
‘Child was taken to hospital’