The show has a long and troubled history of sparking relationship trouble among its contestants.
The first series of Strictly in 2004 was dogged by claims of an affair between newsreader Natasha Kaplinsky and her dance partner Brendan Cole.
Kaplinksy has always insisted there was nothing between her and Cole but the gossip culminated in the collapse of both her 12-year relationship and Cole’s relationship with fellow dancer and fiancée Camilla Dallerup.
And Rachel Riley split from her husband shortly after taking part in the 2013 series, during which she was partnered with dancer Pasha Kovalev. Although she claimed at the time that they were not involved, Riley and Kovalev later revealed, in 2014, that they were in a relationship.
Rihanoff was spared a driving ban, despite totting up 12 penalty points, due to “exceptional hardship”, the court heard.
Northampton Crown Court was told that the ex-Strictly professional needs a car to judge ballroom competitions around the country, and to take her two daughters to school. The court also heard she takes her stepdaughter to hospital to be treated for a heart condition.
The dancer went to court to appeal the conviction on Friday, with Mr Cohen appearing as her witness.
The pair were partnered up on the 11th series of Strictly in 2013. Mr Cohen separated from his then wife Abbie Blayney Cohen a year later and the couple were divorced in 2016.
Rihanoff, who appeared in court under the name Kristina Pchenitchnykh, was caught driving her 72-plate Audi in Horsemarket, Northampton on April 4.
Northampton Crown Court heard that the pair, who announced their engagement in 2022, set up several businesses including a yoga studio which had suffered as a result of the Covid pandemic.
“I get up every day and I fight not to lose everything – to lose my cars and my house and my relationship. I’m so overdrawn,” Mr Cohen said.