-Art dealer Oliver Hoare, 69, of Chelsea, is a former lover of Princess Diana
-He's been banned from driving for 17 months after admitting drink driving
-Was involved in a minor collision on the Kings Road following boozy lunch
-Test found he had 83mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath - the legal limit is 80
By KEILIGH BAKER FOR MAILONLINE
PUBLISHED: 18:25 GMT, 8 May 2015 | UPDATED: 19:10 GMT, 8 May 2015
Art dealer Oliver Hoare, 69, (pictured) has pleaded guilty to drink driving after he was involved in a minor prang in his top of the range Audi A8
Princess Diana's former lover has been banned from the road for 17 months after he was caught drink driving following a boozy restaurant lunch.
Art dealer Oliver Hoare, 69, of Chelsea, was involved in a minor prang on the Kings Road, in London, in his top of range Audi A8.
Police were alerted after the Audi’s number-plate was scr*ped by a passing van.
Although the accident was not his fault officers took a breath-sample from Hoare and found he was just over the limit.
Yesterday, Old Etonian Hoare, who was driven to and from Hammersmith Magistrates’ Court in a silver Mercedes, appeared in the dock wearing a blue suit and white shirt with a cashmere scarf and pleaded guilty to drink driving.
Prosecutor Kevin Christie told the court: ‘Around about twenty past four, police received a call to attend a location regarding an accident.
‘When they attended the scene, they spoke to Mr Hoare, and in due course they asked him to provide a breath sample, which proved positive.’
Tests revealed he had 83 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath.
The legal limit is 80.
Mr Christie said the amount of alcohol in Hoare’s breath was ‘on the lower end’ and he has no previous convictions.
‘The gentleman has taken the opportunity to admit his guilt on the first possible occasion’, he said.
‘Regarding his interactions with police, they did note he was cooperative and polite.’
Mr Christie could not apply for millionaire Hoare, an Islamic art specialist, to pay prosecution costs after papers were served late to the defence.
Daniel Chadwick, for Hoare, handed the three magistrates a bulky file of glowing character references.
He told the court: ‘Mr Hoare says this is a hugely regrettable situation in which he finds himself.'
Mr Chadwick said Hoare had been out to lunch but had travelled to and from the restaurant in a taxi.
‘Later that day, hugely regrettably and carelessly, he got into his car and drove home.
‘He should, of course, have reflected he had drunk earlier and taken a taxi home.’
Mr Chadwick said: ‘Whilst waiting in a side-road to turn left onto the King’s Road, while his vehicle was stationary, a van was driving east-west along the King’s Road.
‘It drove so close to the front of Mr Hoare’s vehicle that it scr*ped his numberplate.
‘There was no damage to either vehicle’, he said.
‘Mr Hoare is utterly contrite.
‘The impact of this on Mr Hoare is he will inevitably lose his driving licence for at least a year.’
Sentencing Hoare, magistrate Deidre Hopkins said: ‘We have listened carefully to what was said on your behalf.
‘We have noted your early guilty plea and your remorse for this matter.
‘As this is a first offence, you are a man of good character and the accident appears not to be to do with the fact that you were driving the car, we have kept the ban to the minimum, 17 months.
‘If you drive while disqualified, it is a very serious offence for which you can be sent to prison.’
He was disqualified for 17 months and ordered to pay a fine of £1,070, a court charge of £150 and a victim surcharge of £170.
Mr Chadwick said Hoare could pay the fine ‘by credit car within seven days’ and would be attending a driving course.