13 March 2024 , 14:27
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Jack Fincham has dodged jail after being caught speeding down a hard shoulder after taking cocaine.
The former Love Island star, 31, was driving his BMW 520D on the hard shoulder of the A2 in Kent when police officers in an unmarked car stopped him. Moments after being stopped, Jack was breathalysed for alcohol, which was negative, but he tested positive for cocaine following a drug swipe.
He also tested positive for diazepam and morphine but was under the legal limit. The dad-of-one appeared at Medway Magistrates' Court but avoided a custodial sentence after he confessed to driving without due care and attention, as well as drug driving.
Jack also pleaded guilty to driving without insurance and also using false registration plates. He was given a 12 weeks sentence which was suspended for 18 months. The former reality star is now banned from driving until October 2029 and was ordered to complete 250 hours of unpaid work.
The court heard that Jack, who won the 2018 series of Love Island's with Dani Dyer, was "driving angry" to see a friend "who was in a bad way" last August. Jack confessed during a police interview that he was taking cocaine five days a week at the time. The star also confessed to paying a pal £100 to make him false number plates for a car similar to his which had insurance.
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Jack Fincham found fame thanks to appearing on the 2018 series of love island (ITV)
The reality TV star struggled with drugs and alcohol abuse after leaving the villa (Instagram)Jack's second drug-driving rule break in five months happened after he was banned from driving for three years last October. Prosecutor Victoria Aked said: "Officers were in an unmarked vehicle in lane two of the road when they sighted a BMW 5 Series travelling at speed down the hard shoulder."
"It posed a risk to any vehicle on the hard shoulder at the time, and many vehicles in lane one which would have moved onto the hard shoulder to allow the emergency vehicle to pass. Eventually he stopped on the hard shoulder. He stated he had a bad morning and was going to see a friend who was in a bad way. He was driving angry and wanted to get there quick, using the hard shoulder to his advantage."
The judge said: "It was extremely lucky that there no accident." Jodie Mardell, a probation officer, noted Jack was "heavily" reliant on cocaine at the time of the offence and used £150 of the Class A white powder five days a week. During sentencing, the judge explained: "It was extremely lucky that there no accident." But he added: "I am happy to suspend the sentence due to the confirmation that Mr Fincham has stopped taking drugs and drinking and that he is also a professional boxer who runs his own business."
Jack, who has since quit drinking, also ordered to pay a £346 fine, a £154 surcharge and £85 in court costs a total of £585. He must also take ten Rehabilitation Activity Requirement sessions. Jack's 67-month driving ban includes the remaining 31 months of a three-year ban imposed last October, after a similar drug-driving offence last year.