Former Arsenal and Liverpool player Jermaine Pennant faced court over driving without insurance after being pulled over by police in September 2025.
The 43-year-old Englishman managed to avoid a driving ban and a fine, as the judge imposed a six-month suspended sentence, taking into consideration the unusual circumstances surrounding the incident.
Pennant claimed that his insurance had expired just a day earlier. He was on his way to pick up his girlfriend, who had injured her leg.
The next day, her leg swelled up so much that we had to take her to hospital, and they said: Yes, you’ve broken your leg and three toes on your foot.
Interestingly, Jermaine had purchased a one-day insurance policy just 10 minutes before being stopped, but it had not activated immediately. Prosecutors stated that the player was finalising the policy at the time he spoke with police.
I wasn’t buying anything. I was trying to sort out insurance, that’s what I was attempting to show.
The court ruled that no penalty points would be added to Pennant’s licence, citing his confusion with the app as a mitigating factor. The former footballer is only required to pay £26 in victim surcharge.
Over two decades ago, Pennant served a prison sentence for drink-driving. He made headlines as the first Premier League player to take to the pitch wearing an electronic tag while playing for Birmingham City.
