Former England captain Wayne Rooney was banned today; 18th September 2017 after Stockport Magistrates’ Court in the northwest of England was found him guilty of almost three times over the legal drink-drive limit. A breathalyser test showed his alcohol level was 104 microgrammes in 100 millilitres of breath.
According to report, Rooney was banned from driving for two years and ordered to perform 100 hours of unpaid work after pleading guilty to drink driving.
Rooney was stopped by police when driving a woman’s black Volkswagen Beetle at 2:00 am (0100 GMT) on September 1 who was later identified to be Laura Simpson, while his pregnant wife and their three sons were on holiday.
The Everton striker, 31, had met Laura, 29, on a night out and was arrested in the early hours of September 1, with Cheshire Police saying the footballer, from Prestbury, had been “charged with driving whilst over the prescribed limit. He was released on bail and is due to appear at Stockport Magistrates’ Court after 10am today, a day after he returned to Old Trafford in a 4-0 loss to old club Manchester United.
The drink-drive limit in England and Wales is 35 microgrammes per 100 millilitres of breath. Rooney apologised for his “unforgivable lack of judgement” after his guilty plea.
“Following today’s court hearing I want publicly to apologise for my unforgivable lack of judgement in driving while over the legal limit. It was completely wrong,” he said in a statement. “I have already said sorry to my family, my manager and chairman and everyone at Everton FC. Now I want to apologise to all the fans and everyone else who has followed and supported me throughout my career. “Of course I accept the sentence of the court and hope that I can make some amends through my community service.”
Rooney’s legal team asked the judge to consider not imposing a community order because of his ongoing charitable work. However, the judge said he was “not convinced” that imposing a large fine “would have the same effect”. Earlier, Rooney, 31, made no comment as he was confronted by a media scrum outside the court.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – MAY 12: Wayne Rooney of Manchester United celebrates with his wife Coleen and son Kai after the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester United and Swansea City at Old Trafford on May 12, 2013 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Matthew Peters/Man Utd via Getty Images)
His wife, Coleen Rooney failed to show her face today as husband Wayne arrived in court to face drink-driving charges. Wife Coleen, 31, who is expecting their fourth child, was in Majorca with their three young sons when he was arrested.