Premier League star hit with UK's largest EVER motoring offence fine

Mario Lemina, of Southampton. Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge
Mario Lemina, of Southampton. Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge

Southampton star Mario Lemina has been handed the UK’s largest fine for a motoring offence.

Lemina has been hit with a £96,000 fine after failing to tell the police who was driving his £50,000 Mercedes when it was caught speeding on three separate occasions.

Both his cousin and his brother were staying with him at the time, with Lemina saying he did not know who was driving the car at the time.

The three speeding charges were dropped as police could not determine who was driving, but he admitted three counts of failing to notify police after ignoring their letters.

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It means the court have forced him to cough up the large sum, thought to be around three times his weekly wage at St Marys.

And Lemina will also been banned from driving for a year, after receiving 18 points on his non-UK licence, which already had 21 points on it anyway.

Tougher speeding fines came into play last year, meaning offenders are fined based on their weekly wages, rather than a blanket figure for all cases.

Mario Lemina has featured in all of Southampton’s fixtures so far this season
Mario Lemina has featured in all of Southampton’s fixtures so far this season

TV presenter Ant McPartlin previously had the ignominy of paying the largest speeding fine, when he was hit with a £86,000 fine in April, but Lemina’s is £10,000 more than that.

The 25-year-old has made 32 appearances since signing for Saints last summer and will discuss the matter with his club this week.

He did not attend the hearing at Aldershot magistrates’ court, but admitted failing to notify police who was driving despite being sent three separate letters.


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