Jordan Pickford has pleaded guilty to a charge of driving without due care and attention after an incident in Knutsford, Cheshire, that a court has heard nearly resulted in a serious collision involving two other vehicles.
The Everton and England goalkeeper, 32, was behind the wheel of his £200,000 Lamborghini Urus when he ran a give way junction on 14 April, forcing two cars to brake sharply to avoid being hit. He then accelerated away down Toft Road before being pursued and stopped by a Cheshire Police officer.
What the court heard
PC Cecil Ricardo, of Cheshire Police, told the court he was stationary on Bexton Road waiting for traffic signals when he spotted Pickford's blue Lamborghini — identifiable by its personalised number plates — travelling along Princess Street. The officer said the vehicle reached the junction with Toft Road, "completely ignored the give way lines" and pulled out, causing two drivers to slam on their brakes.
Ricardo then activated his lights and siren to give chase. He told the court he was travelling at 50mph during the pursuit and the Lamborghini was still pulling away from him. The speed limit on that stretch of Toft Road is 30mph. Pickford eventually appeared to notice the police car and pulled over.
Sentencing to follow in December
Pickford entered a guilty plea in writing and told Warrington Magistrates Court that he wished to attend in person to put forward his mitigation. His case was formally adjourned and he is next due to appear at Chester Magistrates' Court on 7 December, where sentencing is expected to take place.
The precise penalty — which for a careless driving conviction can range from a fine and penalty points to a discretionary driving ban — will depend on the circumstances presented in mitigation on that date.
An awkward moment for a prominent figure
The timing is hardly ideal for one of England's most-capped goalkeepers. Pickford has made 92 appearances for the national side and 336 for Everton since joining the Merseyside club, having come through the ranks at Sunderland and taken in loan spells at Burton Albion, Bradford City and Preston North End, among others. He featured at the 2018, 2022 and 2026 World Cups and was in goal for England's Euro 2020 and Euro 2024 final appearances.
Off-field conduct matters when you represent your club and country at that level, and the market of public opinion tends to be unforgiving in such cases. That said, Pickford's decision to plead guilty rather than contest the charge is the straightforward, responsible course — and his stated intention to appear in court personally to address mitigation suggests he is taking the matter seriously.
Everton have made no public statement on the matter at the time of writing. The FA also declined to comment ahead of the December hearing.
- Incident date: 14 April, Knutsford, Cheshire
- Charge: Driving without due care and attention
- Plea: Guilty
- Next court date: 7 December, Chester Magistrates' Court
Until that hearing concludes, Pickford retains his licence and there is no suggestion from the court proceedings that any further charges are being considered.
Frequently asked
- What did Jordan Pickford plead guilty to?
- Pickford pleaded guilty to driving without due care and attention after running a give way junction in Knutsford, Cheshire, on 14 April, forcing two other vehicles to brake sharply to avoid a collision.
- When is Pickford's sentencing date?
- His case is listed at Chester Magistrates' Court on 7 December, where he has said he intends to appear in person to put forward his mitigation before sentencing.
- Can Jordan Pickford be banned from driving for careless driving?
- A careless driving conviction in England can result in a fine, penalty points on a licence, or a discretionary driving ban, depending on the severity of the offence and any mitigating circumstances presented to the court.