Strictly Tony Adams' prison stint – 'like a hotel' to being 'pelted with carrots'

Strictly Come Dancing star Tony Adams shocked fans when he was imprisoned in 1990.

The Arsenal legend, 56, served 57 days in HMP Chelmsford following a conviction for drink-driving after crashing his car into a wall in Raleigh while four times the legal drink-drive limit.

Tony’s imprisonment came amid an active alcohol addiction which he struggled with for 12 years before getting sober.

READ MORE:Strictly’s Tony Adams’ pal teases star is dark horse and warns ‘don’t bet against him’

With Tony recently comparing Strictly judge Craig Revel Horwood to his prison stint, Daily Star takes a look inside his time behind bars.

Hotel comparisons

While the realities of prison life have been harshly depicted in shows including BBC drama Time, Tony said he felt “secure and safe” during his own two-month stretch.

Comparing his stay to “just like being in a hotel”, Tony previously told Times magazine: “Prison didn’t teach me anything.

“There was no education about why I was in there or around my illness. I felt very secure and safe, which was scary.

“At the time I wasn’t conscious of it, but it was just like being in a hotel.”

He later added: “I had no responsibilities to my relationships, commitments, work or image.”

Addiction setback

While Tony was imprisoned for drink-driving, he would go on to drink and drive again upon his prison release as he continued to struggle with alcohol addiction,

Speaking to ESPN in 2019, he said: “For 12 years I was drinking, and for 11 and a half I didn’t want to stop.

“The denial was really strong, and the consequences too, but even a spell in Chelmsford prison down the road didn’t stop me drinking.

“I came out of prison and drunk and drove again. The denial was still in me and I wasn’t ready.”

Fan outrage

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While promoting Strictly earlier this year, Tony provided insight into the wave of fan backlash he received following his release from prison.

Discussing former tough times which could help the navigate the BBC series, Tony revealed he had had “bottles” and “carrots” thrown at him by irate fans following his drink-driving conviction.

Tony told The Express: “I’m going to top you all, because when I came out of prison they lobbed bottles at me and I had carrots thrown at me.

“So – I’ve trumped it.”

Strictly Come Dancing continues this weekend on BBC One.

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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk