West Ham United defender’s partner charged over serious driving incident
The girlfriend of West Ham United defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka, April Francis, has been charged with causing serious injury by dangerous driving following a collision in Essex last autumn, reports BritPanorama.
The incident took place in Brentwood in September, where Francis is accused of hitting a pedestrian with her vehicle. The pedestrian, a woman in her fifties, sustained life-changing injuries when struck on Hartswood Road at approximately 8:50 am on September 23, 2024.
Essex Police confirmed that the 27-year-old, who resides in East London, was charged by postal requisition earlier this month after a thorough review of the evidence by the Roads Policing Unit. Wan-Bissaka, valued at £55 million, was not present at the time of the incident.
Francis now faces one of the most serious motoring charges available under UK law, which carries a maximum prison sentence of five years upon conviction. Her first appearance before Colchester Magistrates’ Court is scheduled for February 17, 2025.
A spokesperson for the Crown Prosecution Service confirmed the hearing date, stating, “She is due to appear for a first hearing at Colchester magistrates’ court on February 17.” Following the incident, the Roads Policing Unit led the investigation, which has been ongoing since the collision.
The ongoing inquiry involved multiple aspects of the Roads Policing Unit’s operations, underscoring the seriousness with which such incidents are treated. In a statement, police detailed that officers responded to the collision, reaffirming the critical nature of their subsequent investigation.
Wan-Bissaka, who has recently transferred his international allegiance from England to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, continues to feature prominently for West Ham following his move from Manchester United, where he made 130 appearances. Amidst this personal turmoil, he and Francis, who have been together since 2020 and share a daughter, remain under scrutiny as the legal process unfolds.
This case serves as a poignant reminder of the collision between celebrity life and legal accountability, leaving many wondering how public figures navigate these turbulent intersections of personal and professional challenges.
