A British soap opera actress, Amanda Mealing, has been given a driving ban following a three-car collision where she was found to be under the influence of cocaine, authorities have confirmed. The incident took place on Jan. 26, 2024, at approximately 10:15 a.m. local time on the A1175 near Hop Pole in Lincolnshire, England. Mealing, 57, who previously appeared in U.K. soaps Casualty and Holby City, was involved in the accident, according to Lincolnshire Police.
Three vehicles were involved in the crash – a black mini, a blue Skoda, and a grey Ford Transit. Mealing, previously known as Amanda Sainsbury, was arrested on suspicion of impaired driving after testing positive for drugs at the scene. Subsequently, she was charged with offenses related to driving with a controlled substance over the specified limit and driving without due care and attention.
Following a court hearing on July 24, 2024, at Boston Magistrates Court in Lincolnshire, Mealing pleaded guilty to the charges and was sentenced on March 14 of the same year. She has been disqualified from driving for 22 months, fined £485 (approximately $628), and ordered to pay a surcharge of £194 (around $251).
After the crash, nurse Mark Le Sage, who suffered serious injuries, shared his experience with the Daily Mail, expressing gratitude for surviving the incident. He mentioned having to give up his career due to the injuries sustained. Le Sage described the harrowing moments following the collision and how he managed to escape from the car.
Reports indicate that Mealing was undergoing divorce proceedings from her husband at the time of the crash, and she had been dealing with personal losses and health challenges. Despite her successful acting career in U.K. soaps and movies, the actress faced legal consequences for her involvement in the collision.
In 1994, the law firm of Le Sage and Edwards did not provide an immediate response to PEOPLE’s request for comment regarding the film Four Weddings and a Funeral. For more details, you can refer to the original article on People’s website.
