Apprentice made me drink
By ANTONELLA LAZZERI
COCKY Apprentice contestant Syed Ahmed escaped jail yesterday — after being caught drink-driving for the FOURTH time.
The 31-year-old blamed his troubles on the BBC2 reality show.
He told District Judge Jackie Comyns the pressures of filming the hit series — where the winner gets a £100,000-a-year job with tycoon Sir Alan Sugar — had left him depressed.
He also said he struggled to cope after discovering his mother had cancer.
But he bragged to the judge at Thames Magistrates’ Court, South London: “I worked very hard. I started in McDonald’s and now I have my own business.”
He gestured around the court and added: “I don’t belong here.”
At one point Ahmed interrupted the court to try to speak to his solicitor.
Mrs Comyns angrily told him: “Please keep quiet. I’m not having a conversation across the court.”
Ahmed, of Bethnal Green, East London, was already banned from driving when he was caught three times the limit after a party.
Yesterday he pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified and failing to give a specimen. He got a suspended jail term and £500 fine.
Mrs Comyns told him he would normally have gone to prison.
She said: “You clearly have a drink problem. You will have to attend alcoholic counselling.”
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By ANTONELLA LAZZERI
COCKY Apprentice contestant Syed Ahmed escaped jail yesterday — after being caught drink-driving for the FOURTH time.
The 31-year-old blamed his troubles on the BBC2 reality show.
He told District Judge Jackie Comyns the pressures of filming the hit series — where the winner gets a £100,000-a-year job with tycoon Sir Alan Sugar — had left him depressed.
He also said he struggled to cope after discovering his mother had cancer.
But he bragged to the judge at Thames Magistrates’ Court, South London: “I worked very hard. I started in McDonald’s and now I have my own business.”
He gestured around the court and added: “I don’t belong here.”
At one point Ahmed interrupted the court to try to speak to his solicitor.
Mrs Comyns angrily told him: “Please keep quiet. I’m not having a conversation across the court.”
Ahmed, of Bethnal Green, East London, was already banned from driving when he was caught three times the limit after a party.
Yesterday he pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified and failing to give a specimen. He got a suspended jail term and £500 fine.
Mrs Comyns told him he would normally have gone to prison.
She said: “You clearly have a drink problem. You will have to attend alcoholic counselling.”
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