Rams fine drink-drive crash pair
DERBY have fined Tom Lawrence and Mason Bennett six weeks’ wages and ordered them to carry out 80 hours of “community and rehabilitation” work after the pair’s drink-driving arrest.
Lawrence, 25, and Bennett, 23, were charged following a car crash on Tuesday, September 24 which left team-mate Richard Keogh badly injured. They will appear in court on October 15.
A statement from the Rams said: “Irrespective of the outcome of that process, the club will not tolerate any of its players or staff behaving in a manner which puts themselves, their colleagues and members of the public at risk of injury or which brings the club into disrepute.
“Both Lawrence and Bennett are being fined the equivalent of six weeks’ wages and will serve an additional 80 hours of community and rehabilitation, which will include a drink aware course.”
Lawrence said: “I wish to offer my sincere apologies to the football club, our chairman, the manager, my team-mates and all our supporters for my indiscretions that night.
“It was a total error of judgement on my part, out of character for me and I am deeply disappointed in my behaviour and upset for my team-mate and our captain, Richard Keogh.”
Bennett said: “On the night of Tuesday, September 24, I made huge mistakes after consuming alcohol. What I did was wrong and there is no excuse.
“I am sorry to my family, my friends, the club, Derby supporters and the wider football community. I let you all down.”