Rugby ace Danny Cipriani found GUILTY of drink-driving after crashing into taxi following champagne and vodka binge
Police officers at the scene said the tearful star had 'glazed eyes' and stank of alcohol
Rugby ace Danny Cipriani has been found guilty of drink-driving after he downed six drinks and crashed into a taxi.
A court heard the 28-year-old drank four Espresso Martinis, a Vodka Cranberry, and a flute of champagne before he "swerved" his black Mercedes into a taxi at 5.15am on Imperial Road, Chelsea.
Cipriani, who had "glazed eyes" and stank of alcohol, said he was "a bit miffed" to fail a roadside breath test after writing-off his £60,000 car on June 1 last year.
The Wasps fly-half gave a reading of "67 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath" - nearly double the legal limit - when he was breathalysed at Hammersmith Police Station at around 7.30am.
He was ordered to pay a fine of £4,500 - plus £3,000 court costs and a £120 victim surcharge.
He was also banned from driving for 18 months.
He had been out drinking and eating sushi with other players at Eight Over Eight in Chelsea after England's thrashing of the Barbarians earlier that evening.
He had two espresso martinis and a vodka cranberry at dinner, between 8.30pm and midnight.
Cipriani then went to a club for around half an hour, before going to a friend's house. He left at 4am to have breakfast.
The rugby player said he had a fry-up, as well as a "small champagne flute" and two more espresso martinis within 45 minutes before getting a cab to his car.
Police officers at the crash scene said the tearful star had 'glazed eyes' and stank of alcohol.
Cipriani's legal team, fronted by drink-driving specialist Philip Lucas, argued the Crown Prosecution Service failed to provide 'sufficient evidence' that the machine had been checked properly.
Today his lawyers said they intended to appeal the decision, claiming the case was 'riddled with inconsistencies'.
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However, Westminster District Court judge Howard Riddle criticised the defence for using "smoke and mirrors", adding the evidence against Cipriani was "overwhelming".
Judge Riddle said: "I'm satisfied so that I'm sure that the evidential breath test machine was working properly and produced a reading of 67 microgrammes of alcohol, and therefore the verdict is guilty.
"There is ample evidence from independent witnesses that Mr Cirpriani showed signs of being affected by alcohol. We have the account from the other driver... there is the evidence from the police officers.
"There is no reason to believe that they had anything against Mr Cipriani."
Cipriani, wearing a tailored blue suit with a white shirt, sat stony-faced in the dock as the verdict was given.
During the trial he admitted that a drink-driving conviction could affect his England career and celebrity endorsements.
He said: "It would be difficult to get to training for me, to be working every day." Asked if he could be dropped from the England squad if he was convicted, he replied: "Depending on the England coach at the time, yeah."
Cipriani confirmed that he could even lose celebrity endorsements, saying: "It depends on the brand."