‘Teetotal’ X Factor star Chico guilty of drink driving after learning of friend’s death

Former X Factor contestant Chico was found guilty of drink driving after telling the court his arrest came hours after he broke his sobriety.

Willesden Magistrates’ Court heard that Chico, whose real name is Yousseph Slimani, consumed Famous Grouse whiskey for six hours after losing his third friend to cancer.

He was convicted of driving a Vauxhall Astra with 40 micrograms of alcohol in 100 milliliters of breath, exceeding the legal limit of 35 mg, in Chase Way, Southgate, on December 13.

The singer, who reached the quarter-finals of the 2005 TV talent show and released the number-one single “It’s Chico Time”, was banned from driving for 12 months and fined.

At his hearing on Thursday, Slimani wore a burgundy silk shirt and placed his cowboy hat on the table.

The court was also informed that he owed a significant amount of money and that this had led to proceedings in the district court.

During his statement, the defendant had with him a book with the title, which he said he wrote at the time of the alleged crime. Secret 19. Cancer Questions Worth Asking.

He said he consumed Famous Grouse whiskey between 1 and 7 a.m., then Nyquil (a cold and flu medicine similar to Night Nurse) at 6:30 p.m., and was then pulled over around 6:30 p.m. that evening.

Slimani, from north London, told the court: “This was after one of my closest friends had passed away for the third time and it was devastating.

“All the young people in their 50s who have terminal cancers and have passed away – non-smokers, non-drinkers, various types of cancer – and unfortunately they are not here.

“On that fateful day, I don’t drink, I felt like I was losing my mind, I couldn’t stand it, so I drank.”

He later told the court he had not consumed alcohol since.

The defendant claimed that he used Nyquil for “a flu that you might call long Covid” and that it “kept coming and going” and was documented on social media channels.

He did not inform police when asked if he was using any other drugs or medications, saying it was “because when I was arrested and they took me to the police station my mind was literally going 600,000 miles per hour.”

He added: “And when I got to the police station all I could think about was the possible consequences of me being arrested for something that was completely at odds with what I was and what I did.”

This included his sobriety and charity work.

He later said that his fears “unfortunately they all came true” and that they included “the press, the loss of my reputation, the loss of the job – everything happened, it was a disaster.”

The court heard his lawyers told a toxicologist he had consumed 810ml of Famous Grouse whiskey and an unspecified Nyquil product containing 30ml of alcohol.

Toxicologist Sarah Morley calculated that Nyquil would contribute 2mg per 100ml of alcohol in your breath.

Ms Morley also told the court: “I am unable to verify whether the information given to me is accurate.”

Arresting officer PC Yuksel said he watched Slimani talking to another police officer about a separate matter and noticed the defendant’s “quite lively” and “almost cheerful” facial expressions.

In evidence, he said he could smell alcohol on the former singer’s breath, adding: “His facial features were very animated, very lively, and his mannerisms seemed a little – I don’t know how best to describe it – but he seemed to be under the influence of alcohol.

“I asked him if he had been drinking alcohol, and then his attitude changed.”

The police officer said: “He looked quite shocked and when asked this question his demeanor changed from very happy and expressive to more defensive.”

The former X Factor contestant failed a breath test but said he was “calm and compliant” when he was arrested on suspicion of drink driving.

He was then taken to the police station and breath tested again.

Slimani was ordered to pay a £600 fine, a £240 surcharge and £620 costs by District Judge Mark Jabbitt.

He was offered a drink driver rehabilitation plan that, if completed, would reduce his competence by a quarter.

“It is inevitable that I find the case proven,” the judge said.

He added that he was “generally understanding” of Slimani’s grief, but was not against drinking excessively or taking medication without checking its impact on driving.