Redknapp son was ‘15 times drug-drive limit for cocaine’
HARRY Redknapp’s eldest son was caught at 15 times the drug-drive limit for cocaine, a court heard yesterday.
Mark Redknapp, 48, was pulled over for using his mobile phone at the wheel of his Mercedes C63 while stopped at traffic lights after visiting his football manager father.
Officers had intended to issue him with a fixed penalty notice. But, while talking to him, one suspected he was on drugs because his eyes were ‘droopy’ and he kept cleaning his teeth with his tongue, the court was told.
After a swab test in the back of the patrol car showed Redknapp was positive for cocaine, he told the officer: ‘I do not do drugs, I never have.’
The former company director, who lives in a £2million house close to his father in Sandbanks, Dorset, was arrested and taken to a police station. There, a blood test showed he had a blood level of 749 micrograms of benzoylecgonine, a derivative of cocaine, in his system. This is 15 times the legal limit of 50 micrograms.
PC Alex Kimmins told Poole Magistrates’ Court that Redknapp was cooperative and polite throughout their exchange. She explained how she had become suspicious that Redknapp was driving under the influence of a substance, recalling: ‘ His eyelids were very droopy and he was using his tongue to clean the inside of his mouth and teeth.’
When he tested positive for the class A drug, PC Kimmins said: ‘He said something like, “I do not do drugs, I have never taken drugs before”.’
Phillip Lucas, defending, suggested that his client’s eyelids were naturally droopy and that he has no recollection of licking his teeth.
He said to PC Kimmins: ‘I’m going to suggest to you that the defendant’s eyelids are as droopy today as they were on
Trial: Mark Redknapp outside court with his wife and family yesterday the evening of these events. suggested he had of the surname.’ The officer said Redknapp He doesn’t believe his eyes been at his parents’ house. had been searched and no drugs were bloodshot.’ ‘You then had a short conversation or drug paraphernalia found on him or
The court heard the arresting because you recognised in his car. Redknapp, whose wife Lucy officers struck up a conversation his surname and asked and teenage daughter Molly with Redknapp him about his father. You were in court, is the elder about his father, a former asked what he was up to brother of Liverpool starturned-TV manager of Tottenham and these days, whether he was pundit Jamie, West Ham and the reigning still involved in football.’ and the cousin of former champion of reality show PC Fitzpatrick said he asked Chelsea and England player I’m A Celebrity ... Get Me a couple of questions about Frank Lampard. Out Of Here! Redknapp’s father but not The defendant was himself
Addressing PC Andrew Fitzpatrick, about football. a youth player with Bournemouth who was with PC Mr Lucas said: ‘ But you before a serious knee Kimmins at the time of the had made the link between injury at 18 ended his incident on April 2 in the Canford this defendant and Harry chances of becoming a professional Cliffs area of Poole last Redknapp?’ PC Fitzpatrick footballer. He went year, Mr Lucas said: ‘[Redknapp] replied: ‘Yes, purely because on to play for a number of non-league clubs. Redknapp, of Poole, denies driving a vehicle while over the specified drug limit. The trial was adjourned until April.
‘His eyelids were very droopy’