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Drink Driving: Rooney Banned From Driving For 2 Years
Footballer Wayne Rooney has pleaded guilty to drink driving on a night out while his pregnant wife and their three sons were on holiday.
The Everton striker, 31, arrived at Stockport Magistrates’ Court after he was stopped while driving a black Volkswagen Beetle in Wilmslow, Cheshire, at 2am on September 1.
He was banned from driving for two years and given a 12-month community order as well as being told to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work.
Rooney said in a statement: ‘Following today’s court hearing I want to publicly apologise for my unforgivable lack of judgement in driving while over the legal limit. It was completely wrong.
“I have already 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.’
There had been speculation over whether he would wear his ring before he arrived – a picture of him getting out of the car confirms he was wearing it.
However, his wife Coleen, who announced last month that she is is expecting the couple’s fourth child, was not with him.
He made no comment as he was confronted by a media scrum outside the court.
Rooney was arrested by Cheshire Police after officers pulled him over on Altrincham Road and was released on bail later that day.
He was charged after being stopped while driving a black Volkswagen Beetle in Wilmslow, Cheshire, at 2am on September 1.
The car belonged to Laura Simpson, a woman he had met in the Bubble Room bar in Alderley Edge on a night out.
He had been pictured in a selfie with cricketer Jack McIver in the Bubble Room bar in Alderley Edge the evening before his arrest.
Mr McIver shared the photo on Instagram at around 10pm on August 31, with the comment: ‘International Break #legend.’
He was given a warm welcome at Old Trafford on his return to former club Manchester United on Sunday but it ended in disappointment with a 4-0 defeat for Everton.