The maroon silk shirt and the worn cowboy hat placed deliberately on the table felt like a final, defiant gesture. Chico Slimani, the man who once commanded audiences with “It’s Chico Time,” now faced a different kind of judgment – a courtroom, and the weight of a drink-driving charge.
His defense wasn’t denial, but a raw, heartbreaking confession. Slimani, 55, revealed to Willesden Magistrates’ Court that the arrest came after he’d shattered a long-held sobriety, triggered by the devastating loss of a third friend to cancer. Six hours, he stated, spent grappling with grief and the amber solace of Famous Grouse whisky.
The courtroom heard a story of profound loss, of watching friends succumb to illness despite living healthy lives. He described a desperate attempt to numb the pain, a lapse in judgment born from unbearable sorrow. “It felt like I was going out of my mind,” he confessed, “couldn’t take it, so I drank.”
The details painted a picture of a man unraveling. He’d followed the whisky with Nyquil, seeking relief from a lingering illness he attributed to “long Covid.” He admitted to not disclosing the medication to police, his mind, he said, “literally going at 600,000mph” in the aftermath of the arrest.
A book lay with him during his testimony, titled “The Secret 19: Cancer Questions Worth Asking.” It hinted at a transformation, a shift from entertainer to wellness advocate, a path now threatened by this single, devastating night. He spoke of the catastrophic consequences he feared – the loss of reputation, the drying up of work.
Toxicological evidence presented a complex picture. Calculations suggested the Nyquil contributed a small amount to his breath alcohol level, but the toxicologist herself couldn’t verify the accuracy of the information provided. The court needed to determine if grief, medication, and a broken vow of sobriety amounted to a legal defense.
The arresting officer’s testimony offered a stark contrast. He described Slimani initially as “joyful” and “animated,” his facial expressions “vivid.” But the moment he inquired about alcohol consumption, the demeanor shifted – from open and expressive to defensive and guarded.
Despite his calm cooperation during the arrest, the breath test results spoke for themselves: 40 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath, exceeding the legal limit. District Judge Mark Jabbitt found the case proven, acknowledging the bereavements but firmly stating his disapproval of excessive drinking and mixing medication with driving.
The sentence was delivered: a £600 fine, a £240 surcharge, and £620 in costs. A 12-month driving ban loomed, with a potential reduction if he completed a rehabilitation scheme. The echoes of “It’s Chico Time” felt distant, replaced by the somber reality of a life irrevocably altered by loss and a single, fateful decision.
Slimani’s fears, he stated, had tragically come true. The consequences extended beyond the legal penalties, threatening to dismantle the carefully constructed life he’d rebuilt after his time in the spotlight.
