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Wayne Rooney

STOCKPO. – Former England soccer team captain Wayne Rooney was yesterday banned from driving for two years and ordered to perform 100 hours of unpaid community work after pleading guilty to drink-driving.

The Everton striker apologised for an “unforgivable lack of judgement” following his sentencing by a court in northern England for being nearly three times over the drink-drive limit while his pregnant wife and their three sons were on holiday.

Everton will also fine Rooney two weeks’ wages – £320 000 – after the striker pleaded guilty to a drink-driving charge.

The Everton striker and former England captain was stopped by police when driving a woman’s black Volkswagen Beetle in Wilmslow, Cheshire, at 2am on September 1 while his wife and children were on holiday.

Rooney (31) was later arrested and bailed and yesterday he entered his guilty plea at Stockport Magistrates’ Court. The former Manchester United captain’s lawyer told the court he wished “to express his genuine remorse for a terrible mistake”.

The court was also told Rooney, who earns in the region of £160 000-a-week, would be fined two weeks’ wages by his club.

Rooney’s official punishment, handed to him by the judge, was a two-year driving ban and a 12-month community order with 100 hours on unpaid community work.

Rooney’s breathalyser reading on the morning of September 1 was 104, almost three times the legal limit of 35.

“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,” read a statement from England’s record goalscorer.

“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.”

His legal team asked the judge to consider not imposing a community order because of his ongoing charitable work but he said he was “not convinced” that imposing a large fine “would have the same effect”. – AFP.