The former England football captain Wayne Rooney has pleaded guilty to a drink-driving charge. The Everton forward, 31, was banned from driving for two years and ordered to perform 100 hours of unpaid work as part of a 12-month community order. Rooney was charged after being stopped by police while driving a black Volkswagen Beetle in Wilmslow, Cheshire, at 2am on 1 September. The car belonged to a woman he had met in the Bubble Room bar in Alderley Edge on a night out.
In a statement issued after the plea he apologised for his “unforgivable lack of judgment”. He said: “Following today’s court hearing I want publicly to apologise for my unforgivable lack of judgment in driving while over the legal limit. It was completely wrong. “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 made no comment when he arrived at Stockport magistrates court on Monday, a day after playing in Everton’s 4-0 defeat against his former club Manchester United. The record goal scorer for both Manchester United and England appeared amid a large police presence and banks of photographers outside the courthouse.
Rooney has scored twice in Everton’s first three league games of the season, but is not due to play this weekend after retiring from the national team last month.
In addition to the Champions League, Europa League, five Premier League titles, an FA Cup and three League Cups, Rooney broke Sir Bobby Charlton’s scoring records both for United and for England. His combined goal tally for club and country stands at 323 and he is England’s most capped outfield player.
Source: Theguardian UK
