Exclusive
ANT AND WRECKED
Ant McPartlin arrested over ‘drink-driving crash’ in London as young girl is taken to hospital
TROUBLED Ant McPartlin was arrested on suspicion of drink-driving after a three-car smash.
Witnesses said the 42-year-old TV presenter looked dazed after hitting two cars in his Mini in South West London. One added: “Ant looked like his world had just ended.”
16
16
Ant got “agitated and argumentative” with a policewoman as she arrested him on suspicion of drink-driving, and was held in police custody for more than ten hours - returning to his home at 2.40am this morning.
Witness Jake Spencer said the Saturday Night Takeaway presenter rowed with officers as they tried to put him in a police car after he failed a breath test at the crash scene.
He added: “Ant looked in a right state and was acting argumentatively toward a policewoman.
“I couldn’t believe it when I saw who it was.
Ant McPartlin arrives home at 2.30am after arrest for 'drink-drive' crash
16
16
16
“The woman was trying to arrest him and get him in the police car but he clearly wasn’t having it.
“He was not making it easy for her and he seemed to be trying to wriggle out of her clutches. He was not in a good way.
“Eventually she got him in the police car. There were about six or seven police cars in total.”
Ant, 42, booked himself into rehab in the summer of last year for drink and prescription drug addictions.
Speaking at the time he revealed that he grew into the habit of using dangerous cocktails of drugs washed down with alcohol to get him through gruelling work commitments following knee surgery.
16
16
16
Ant said: “I want to thank my wife, family and closest friends for helping me through this really difficult time.
“I’ve spoken out because I think it’s important that people ask for help if they’re going through a rough time and get the proper treatment to help their recovery.”
He allegedly hit two cars in his black Mini sports car at around 4pm as he and mum Christine headed home after walking their dogs.
It was thought Ant's car had veered into the wrong lane after coming round a sharp bend on Lower Richmond Road, South West London, and hit a green Mini — then crashed into a BMW X5.
Less than 24 hours earlier, he had been performing with telly partner Declan Donnelly on ITV's Takeaway show.
16
16
Motorcyclist Nicholas McNicol said: “I came on the scene moments after it happened and he was being escorted to the police car to be put in the back.
“Everyone was in a state of shock at who it was.
“I was driving past very slowly and Ant looked straight at me and I thought he looked tired. I was only about 3ft from him.
“His eyes looked very heavy and he had a solemn face — it looked like his world had just ended.
“He was the only one being put in a police car.
“One of the Minis had obviously come straight across the road because it was facing the wrong way.”
16
16
A third witness, who lives nearby, said: “I was at home when I heard a huge bang outside which was so loud I thought it was a train crash.
“There’s a level crossing nearby and I genuinely thought a train had wiped out a car.
“I went to see if anyone needed help. As soon as I opened my front door I heard the horn of a car blaring non-stop and ran towards the sound.
“Near a bend in the road there were two badly damaged Minis which looked as though they’d collided and a BMW X5 — and people wandering around in shock.
16
16
“A family had been in the green Mini which had its front end completely smashed in.
“A little girl aged six or seven was crying as her mum tried to calm her down.
“She looked really shaken up but didn’t look seriously hurt. Then I saw the driver of the black Mini, a flash one with red sports stripes and alloy wheels, and recognised the driver as Ant.
“He looked really, really traumatised and unsteady on his feet, which I put down to shock because his car was a wreck. It must have been a big impact because all of the airbags had gone off inside Ant’s Mini. He looked awful.
16
16
“He was wearing a black jacket and wellies.
“He looked as though he’d been walking his dog because he was walking around the wreckage holding a lead.
“There was a woman in the car with him, who I presumed to be his mum, plus two dogs.
“None of them looked to be seriously hurt. They were just in shock. I think an Asian family were involved and passers-by were helping them before the ambulance and police arrived.”
A video of Ant’s arrest shows him appearing agitated as officers put him in their car.
He appears to move around in the back of the car until an officer opens the back door of the vehicle to speak to him.
The young girl seen crying at the crash scene was taken to hospital for a precautionary check-up.
The arrest is the latest in a string of blows for I’m A Celebrity star Ant.
After his rehab stint, which was revealed by The Sun On Sunday, Ant announced he was divorcing wife Lisa, 41, after 11 years of marriage.
Legal experts say it could cost him £30million.
Months of pain and hell of drugs
THE crash comes after a nightmare few months for ITV’s golden boy Ant, writes Jack Ling.
In August he told The Sun On Sunday how he checked into rehab to kick his addiction to Tramadol — the painkiller he got hooked on after a botched knee operation.
Ant said he knew he needed help after wife Lisa had to rush him to hospital at 5am when he tried to dull his pain with a mix of Tramadol, morphine and alcohol.
He said: “I was at the point where anything, prescription drugs, non-prescription drugs.
“And take them with alcohol, which is ridiculous. The doctors told me ‘You could have killed yourself’.”
Then in January Ant revealed he was splitting with wife Lisa Armstrong, a Strictly Come Dancing make-up artist.
A source told of the “eight months” of strain his drug use had put on their marriage, adding separation would be “the right thing for his health.”
But the split was bitter. with Lisa being said to have to “liked” back-biting posts about the Geordie star on Twitter.
And the estranged couple prepared for a custody struggle over their beloved dog Hurley.
Ant, who could have to pay Lisa a settlement of around £30 million, drove his Range Rover into a tree after walking the black Labrador in Richmond last month.
The Sun also revealed how Lisa had been axed from Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway over the divorce battle.
Insiders said bosses feared her presence could be “difficult.”
One added: “It’s a very sensitive situation.”
MOST READ IN NEWS
Scotland Yard said: “Police were called to Lower Richmond Road at 15:59hours following reports of a road traffic collision involving three vehicles. A number of individuals were treated at the scene for minor injuries only.
“A child passenger from one of the cars has been taken to hospital for a check-up as a precaution.
“A 42-year-old man was arrested at the scene on suspicion of drink-driving after failing a roadside breathalyser test.”
Saturday Night Takeaway viewers in hysterics at Ant and Dec's height difference with Ashley and Jordan Banjo
GOT a story? RING The Sun on 0207 782 4104 or WHATSAPP on 07423720250 or EMAIL [email protected]
Topics