Chelsea defender, Wesley Fofana, has escaped a prison sentence after admitting to dangerous driving, marking his ninth driving offence.

The 24-year-old Frenchman was handed 300 hours of unpaid community service and given another driving ban following his reckless behaviour on a Surrey motorway.

Shocking dashcam footage shown at Staines Magistrates’ Court captured the £75 million player swerving through traffic and using the hard shoulder of the A3 Esher Bypass in Hook at high speed.

Prosecutor Rabbi Khan told the court that the incident occurred around 4:50 p.m. on April 20 and that Wesley Fofana’s actions posed a serious risk to other road users.

“The witness identified the danger and this defendant was driving on the hard shoulder at speed in a 50mph zone,” Khan said. “The offence is aggravated by an approaching bend that was signposted and he is not indicating when making these manoeuvres.”

The France international, who earns £200,000 a week, was already serving a two-year driving disqualification for a string of speeding offences earlier this year. The court imposed an extra 18-month ban, extending his time off the road until May 2027.

District Judge Julie Cooper criticised Fofana for his poor example to fans. “You obviously realise there are a lot of young people who look up to you and they would like to be like you and follow you,” she said.

“They will not be able to handle their car and do some ridiculous driving manoeuvres and they are dead. You need to be much more responsible about your behaviour.”

Fofana, dressed in black with two bodyguards at his side, spoke only to confirm his name and address. He left the court smirking after being told to pay £85 in costs and a £114 victim surcharge.

His lawyer, Imogen Cox, admitted her client had no excuse for his actions. “The video speaks for itself, 15 to 20 seconds of driving that are conceded,” she told the court. “He apologised for driving and said he had learned a valuable lesson.”

The defender, who joined Chelsea from Leicester City in 2022, has endured an injury-hit spell at Stamford Bridge, managing only two Premier League appearances this season.

Judge Cooper warned that any further offences could have severe consequences. “At the end of the disqualification you cannot drive until you pass an extended driving test and if you drive as a disqualified driver you will almost certainly be sent to prison and that is career-ending,” she said.

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