Ant McPartlin’s mum Christine Woodhall ‘didn’t know he was drunk’ when he got behind wheel in drink-drive crash
ANT McPartlin's mum didn't know he was drunk as he tried to drive them home before causing a horrific smash that saw a four-year-old girl injured.
The TV presenter was yesterday left begging for forgiveness as he admitted to being twice the legal alcohol limit at the time of the crash.
Wimbledon Magistrates' court yesterday heard that the 42-year-old's mother and sober coach, Christine Woodhall, didn't know her son was drunk as he got behind the wheel after taking his dogs for a walk last month.
Liam Walker, defending, told the court it was a "a brief relapse unbeknownst to his passenger".
The troubled TV star's mother had desperately tried to keep her son on the straight and narrow, even having moved in with him in a bid to keep a closer eye on him.
She was just one of two people allowed to visit him in rehab, trying to support him through his marriage to Lisa Armstrong fell apart.
A source told The Mirror Ant was leaning on Christine for support following the incident and claimed she was hoping to speak to him.
They said: "She hopes to be able to see him or speak to him.
"It’s been a real wake-up call for everyone. She was not aware of his drinking when he got into the car; she would have said something. But she will help him sort himself out."
McPartlin's friend and co-host Declan Donnelly had also been one of the few allowed to visit McPartlin during his stint in rehab.
The crash was a blow to McPartlin's career, with the troubled star fined £86,000 and banned from the road for 20-months as punishment for the reckless crash.
In sentencing, District Judge Barbara Barnes told McPartlin: "At the time when it happened you were struggling with various personal problems and also alcohol issues for some months.
"This incident happened, sadly, when it seems you suffered a brief relapse."
She added: "I think it will have quite an impact on you to know you're no longer a man of good character."
Several people were injured in the crash, with a nine-year-old left screaming "I'm dying mummy" as he went into shock after the smash.
Ant was left stumbling out surrounded by air bags while shocked bystanders watched on and filmed him in Richmond.
It is believed the crash happened after Ant attempted to overtake another car on a bend and lost control.
Four-year-old Amaira Dandekar was in one of the cars with mum Shilpa and dad Faheem Vanoo and had to be taken to hospital as a precaution after the crash.
In the aftermath, restaurant boss Faheem told The Sun: "I don’t care whether he’s a millionaire and I don’t care whether he’s a famous TV star — he could have put my daughter in a wheelchair.”
Ant's driver's side front wheel was torn off and the two dogs - including Ant's chocolate labrador Hurley - in the back were left whimpering and shivering in shock.
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After he was charged, ITV announced the Saturday Night Takeaway host would step back from his TV commitments, with co-presenter Declan Donnelly hosting the final two episodes of the show on his own.
McPartlin appeared alongside Donnelly on TV screens over the weekend as Britain's Got Talent aired its pre-recorded audition shows.
A pal previously told The Sun that Ant knows he has to "face the music".
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