Chelsea defender Wesley Fofana has avoided a jail sentence despite admitting to dangerous driving — his ninth motoring offence.

The 24-year-old was sentenced to 300 hours of unpaid community service and issued a further driving suspension after dashcam footage showed him weaving through traffic and using the hard shoulder at high speed on the A3 Esher Bypass in Surrey on April 20.

Prosecutor Rabbi Khan told Staines Magistrates’ Court that Fofana was travelling at speed in a 50mph zone and “posed a serious risk to other road users,” failing to indicate while performing reckless manoeuvres on a bend.

Fofana, who earns around £200,000 per week and cost Chelsea £75 million, was already serving a two-year driving ban for previous speeding offences. The court extended that prohibition by an additional 18 months, meaning he cannot drive until May 2027.

District Judge Julie Cooper criticised the France international for setting a poor example, saying young fans could imitate such behaviour with deadly consequences. “You need to be much more responsible,” she warned, adding that further violations could lead to prison and jeopardise his career.

Fofana, accompanied by bodyguards and dressed in black, spoke briefly to confirm his details before leaving the courtroom. He was ordered to pay £85 in costs and a £114 victim surcharge.

His lawyer, Imogen Cox, told the court that Fofana accepted responsibility and had “learned a valuable lesson.” The defender has struggled with injuries since joining Chelsea from Leicester City in 2022, featuring just twice in the Premier League this season.