Ex-Coronation Street star Adam Rickitt banned from driving after 600-metre trip to grab a takeaway while drunk

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SOAP star Adam Rickitt has been banned from the roads for drink driving after he was caught making a 600-metre trip home by car to grab a takeaway dinner with his TV presenter wife.

The former Hollyoaks and Coronation Street actor, 42, had been working late and drinking in a wine bar he runs – but was summoned back in a phone call from GMB’s Kate Fawcett who had ordered the meal.

Adam Rickitt appeared in court yesterday and was banned from the roads

He was caught making a 600-metre trip home by car to grab a takeaway dinner with his TV presenter wife

Adam and co-star Leanne Battersby in Corrie in 1998

Police stopped his Skoda Yeti car as he collected the food less than 400 metres away from his Dexter and Jones bar, in Knutsford, Cheshire. 

Traffic officers breathalysed him and tests found he was more than twice the alcohol limit having earlier drunk two gins and a rum shot whilst at work.

At Stockport magistrates court, Rickitt, from Knutsford, admitted drink driving and was banned from driving for 17 months.

The hearing was told he had initially spoken to expensive ”loophole lawyers” who advised him of ways to escape disqualification.

The incident occurred on August 22 five months after Rickitt left Hollyoaks when his character Kyle Kelly took his own life.

Prosecutor Lucy Bridge said: ”A PC and PCSO on uniformed duty become aware of the green Skoda with its headlights not illuminated.

“The officer approached the driver and explained he had been seen to be driving with no lights on. He was invited to sit in the police vehicle and was asked if he’s consumed any alcohol and he’s responded two single gins.

“He was asked what time his last drank was and he responded: ‘two minutes ago.”

There was then a 15-minute wait for the test and during this wait, he said: “I know I will probably be over the limit I had a 65% rum shot prior to driving.”

Tests showed Rickitt, who married Miss Fawcett in 2014 had 80 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath.

The alcohol limit is 35mg. In mitigation defence lawyer Victoria Thompson said: ”He is deeply ashamed to be appearing before the courts and is not someone who’s whatsoever been in trouble.

“He’s found the whole process very upsetting and takes full responsibility for his actions.

“He owns a bar and had had a difficult day he’s put most of his savings and spent some time getting it up and running only for COVID to hit and caused a strain.

“He is also known as he’s an actor but that work ended for him in March and there is no acting work at the moment because of the situation with COVID. 

“That work has all but dried up for him and he is relying solely on his bar to keep him afloat.

“He’s only receiving £1,000 a month a modest income and anything he does have is going back into the bar.

“He offers a takeaway service so he’s doing everything he can to work on that for him and his family.”

Rickitt was also fined £230 and ordered to pay £119 in costs and surcharges.

JP Paul Dunn told him: ”We have taken into account how remorseful you are over this unfortunate incident but you made the wrong decision on this occasion when you could have walked.”

The former soap star was banned from driving

Adam Rickitt exited the soap after a dramatic showdown with his screen father-in-law

Dexter and Jones wine bar which Adam Rickitt runs at Princess St, Knutsford

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