Hammers transfer target M’Baye Niang was sentenced to a suspended 18-month jail sentence after a hit and run car accident involving his Ferrari.

The Frenchman,  who was on loan with Montpellier admitted hitting several cars before crashing his Ferrari into a tree in February this year. He was charged with causing unintentional injuries, endangering people’s lives, a hit and run and driving without a licence.The prosecutor had asked for 170 hours of community work but the court handed him the suspended sentence instead.

Eleven people, some of whom were slightly injured, had filed a civil complaint.

‘I panicked,’ the player told a Montpellier court in February asked why he never stopped after hitting the vehicles.

Francois Lafont, lawyer for the plaintiffs, said: ‘It was pure craziness. It’s not just an accident, this is assault. Ten people could have been killed.’ Niang has previously rejected offers from Manchester City, Spurs and Arsenal before joining AC Milan from French side Caen in August 2012.

Soon after joining Milan, he was stopped by police while driving without a licence.

Under the legal age of 18 at the time, Niang was alleged to have said he was team-mate Bakaye Traore when questioned. He later denied that when apologising for the misdemeanour.He said: ‘I would like to say sorry to all of the fans. Also to Milan Vice-President Adriano Galliani, boss Massimiliano Allegri and this magnificent club. I made a grave error, but I never said that I was Traore’

Essex and Met police beware Niang could be coming to roads near you soon!