A former Manchester City youth player who killed a brother and sister while speeding has been banned from the wheel for 22 months after he was caught drink-driving.
Courtney Meppen-Walter, 24, told magistrates he was 'embarrassed' at his latest driving offence of being more than twice the legal limit when he was stopped in his vehicle by police in Manchester city centre last month.
In 2013 he was sent to custody for 16 months for causing the deaths of Kulwant Singh, 32, from Salford, and his sister, Ravel Kaur, 37, by careless driving when he hit their Nissan Micra in his grandfather's high-powered Mercedes C220 saloon in September 2012.
Moments earlier, the then 18-year-old had been 'jockeying' and 'playing games' with a friend in a Volkswagen Golf along a nearby dual carriageway before he travelled at nearly double the 30mph speed limit and hit the Nissan as it emerged from a side street in Manchester.
On Wednesday the now part-time professional footballer and coach was back in court for the drink-driving offence committed in the early hours of December 10.
Meppen-Walter had met friends at the city's Christmas markets and intended to have just one drink but consumed several, Manchester Magistrates' Court heard.
CCTV operators later alerted mobile officers on patrol when the defendant's Kia Picanto was seen swerving in the road.
The vehicle appeared to hit a kerb and was stalled at a red light in Great Bridgewater Street when a police constable approached, the court heard.
Risha Seth, prosecuting, said the officer stated he had to take Meppen-Walter from the car because he would not get out and then needed the assistance of two passers-by as he restrained him to the ground.
Ms Seth said the officer thought the defendant was drunk.
Meppen-Walter was arrested and taken to a police station where he gave a positive reading of 85 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath - the legal limit being 35mcg.
The court was told that father-of-one Meppen-Walter - who pleaded guilty last month - agreed with the evidence of the case but claimed he did not resist arrest as described.
A pre-sentence probation reported noted his drink-driving reflected 'poor judgment' when considering his previous conviction and that 'again he has failed to consider the consequences of his actions'.
Caitriona McLaughlin, defending, said: 'The most significant mitigation in this case is his genuine remorse which has been reflected throughout. He is truly sorry for his actions.
'It was a mistake and it is the one and only drink mistake on his record.'
The court heard that alcohol played no part in the killing of Mr Singh and Ms Kaur who had come to the UK from Afghanistan in 2001 to start a new life after fleeing persecution by the Taliban.
Before passing sentence, chairwoman of the bench Margaret Hutchinson asked Meppen-Walter if he wanted to say anything about the current case.
He replied: 'I know what you are probably thinking and what everyone else is thinking. I will probably get called every named under the sun and I deserve it. I'm just embarrassed.'
Mrs Hutchinson said: 'We hope this will be a lesson to you and we will not see you in court again.
'Drink-driving is a very serious matter and the consequences could have been much graver than today.'
Meppen-Walter must also serve a 12-month community order, complete 80 hours of unpaid work and pay court costs totalling £170.
He indicated he wanted to take a drink-drive awareness course which would reduce his ban by 22 weeks.
Meppen-Walter, of Kirkstall Avenue, Heywood, was signed by Carlisle United after completing his custodial sentence and is currently playing for Chorley FC in the National League North.
Khalifa07
0
Look at his head like an avocado.
opportun
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Back to jail - 22 month ban is a joke
People rarely get a prison sentence for straight drink driving.
typhoonv
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That'll really teach him.
Teach him what if neither being Jailed helped him!
moonlights
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Yet another absolutely dripping attitude by the look of him.
payback
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An utter waste of space. This once great country of ours should have the three strikes rule for clowns like this. Third serious offence, minimum prison term of ten years. Will give them something to think about first time round, most definitely second time around, third time, just lock 'em up!
Timothys
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No words....so breathtakingly horrific that I seriously and genuinely cannot think of any words to describe what I am feeling/thinking right now....
Jessicaa
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Not really much of a deterrent especially as he's already been involved in a serious driving incident where people have lost there lives - I'm assuming his defence lawyer thinks it's acceptable that this is his only drink mistake as it's been referred to - I'm sorry he will know how much he has drunk and getting being the wheel of his car is no mistake he thought he like many others would get away with it but didn't
hundred
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He should really have had a driving ban once the lenient imprisonment ended. We really lead the world in justice and consideration for life....not to mention banking and political procedure. Oh,and the justice system.
ukulele
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It seems that he has no regard for the law, there for much tougher sentencing is required in order to drive the message home - how about 5 years community service working with people who have suffered devastating injuries because of reckless or drink-driving?
wikipedia
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Prison obviously didn't teach him a thing, so a 22 month ban is nothing in the way of a punishment. Isn't British justice wonderful?
makejin
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8 months for each life really showed him the error of his ways didn't it?
Martorella
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Why is he still not in prison, he killed two people. He should be in for 25-years.
fcb522
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He gets a ban? Surely he should be sent back to jail. Obviously not learnt any lessons.
Thonas
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He will never learn he's a horrible lad met him a few times
eyebrower
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He should serve a life sentence for killing the other 2 as he's now proved it wasn't a one off. Killed before and didn't care if he killed again. This sentence should be appealed.
society
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That's ridiculous! If he had been given a more appropriate sentence for killing two pople back in 2013, we would have been still inside and therefore unable to drink drive again. A further offence like that should get an automatic lifetime ban!
Dukekill
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Should be back in prison, he has proved wreck less behind the wheel and killed people. He is a ticking timebomb.
Abrahames
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Never should be allowed near any footballing matters at all
snookera
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Some people will never learn. And certainly not with a justice system that doesn't seem to effectively punish law breakers.
LiveFootball
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This is a joke. Life should mean life. It should be classed as a murder. Sadly the reality is that the crown owns as like livestock and treats us like sheep.
although
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unbelievable clearly hasn't learned his lesson they should have locked him up
PLApolo
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Nothing to do with Man City so no reason to mention the club. He should have got a much longer time in prison.
holidayer
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Taking a life is equivalent to 8 months jail time.
Stevemedu
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What... Should be jailed and banned from the roads for ever.
keduo
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Absolutely disgusting! What a vile human being. He kills 2 people and despite being free to live his life he learns nothing! How unbelievably horrendous, and just a kick in the face to the poor family of those kids!
portrait
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Who? Or rather, why is he not in prison for a very long time?
Yuewsesber
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Lock him up, did not learn and can't behave
Jamesing
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Should be back in prison
idiot12
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Why hasn't he been jailed again? He's clearly a massive risk to life.
interfaces
0
He should have been sent back down again.
dangerou
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How on earth has he learned his lesson. Prison time!
Kingkley
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What a joke 80 hours of community service hardly a deterrent. You might have hoped that killing 2 people previously would have made him stop and think before getting behin the wheel drunk. He should have been sent back to prison and banned for life. What an absolute scumbag. Maybe he needs to look up what sorry means
Daesewser
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The bloke should be banned from driving for like and should be in prison for many years in my view.
myhome12
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Back to jail - 22 month ban is a joke
pinkmans
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That'll really teach him.
Timothyer
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And that ladies and gentlemen is justice in this country!
Cukdotyz
0
he should be jailed
LaCeleste
1
What a pity. Such potential but ruined his life and those of the families of those he killed by his poor choices. Shows where drinking and wrong friends can lead you.