A 32-year-old former Premier League footballer, Sammy Ameobi, caused a hit-and-run accident on his way to his £360-a-week apprentice job, leaving a teenager injured and stranded in her Citroen C1. Ameobi collided with the teenager’s car in his Audi E-Tron with a personalized number plate and then fled the scene, prompting the victim’s family to seek help in identifying him, leading to his eventual apprehension.
Police utilized CCTV footage to locate Ameobi, who was found to be driving without valid insurance for his luxury vehicle. During the court proceedings at Chester Magistrates Court, Ameobi admitted guilt to failing to stop after the accident and driving without insurance. He was fined £240, incurred £181 in costs and victim surcharge, and received six penalty points on his license.
Ameobi explained to the court that he was in a state of panic due to starting a new apprenticeship and being in a rush to get to work on the day of the incident. He apologized for his actions, citing personal stress from a previous night spent at the hospital with his son, who had a health scare. Ameobi, a devout Christian with a football background at Newcastle United and other clubs, expressed remorse for his lapse in judgment regarding insurance and attributed it to an oversight related to a private registration change.
Despite the incident, Ameobi’s character was highlighted as having no prior convictions, and no compensation claim was made by the victim for damages to her vehicle. Ameobi’s family ties to professional football were also mentioned, with his brothers Shola and Tomi also pursuing careers in the sport.