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Footballer gets driving ban after $100k BMW smash

Tokia Russell blasts his shot into an empty net. Lock N Key thrashed Valley FC 11-1. Corona (Photo by Akil Simmons) March 3,2012

Footballer Tokia Russell has owned up to a drunk driving offence that saw a top model BMW written off and two other cars damaged outside Devonshire Recreational Club.Magistrates’ Court heard that Russell, 34, a Works and Engineering employee, of Stadium Heights, Pembroke, told police: “I just crashed my $100,000 car” when they arrived at the scene on September 5, 2011.The veteran footballer, who has played for PHC and Dandy Town, apologised to the court, adding that he had paid for the damage caused in “a stupid mistake”.At the time, the collision resulted in Frog Lane being closed off for about two hours.According to Crown counsel Tawana Tannock, two cars, one of them parked, were alongside one another on the road at about 7.30pm that day.The occupants were talking when they heard an approaching vehicle, but before they could move another car came over the crest of the hill at high speed.Police arrived to find Russell showing signs of intoxication and he was arrested.On learning the “extensively damaged” car had been a BMW Cabriolet, Magistrate Khamisi Tokunbo told Russell: “I feel your pain.”He fined Russell $800 and banned him from driving for one year.