Wayne Rooney banned from driving for two years for drink driving

Wayne Rooney arrived in court with his hands in his pockets (Picture: PA)

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 publicly to 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.

Rooney could bee seen wearing his wedding ring before he put his hands in his pockets (Picture: LNP)

‘Of course I accept the sentence of the court and hope that I can make some amends through my community service.’

Rooney entered Court Two at just before 10.30am in a dark blue suit and black tie, and sat in the public gallery next to his agent Paul Stretford.

Less than a minute later he was called into the dock to confirm his full name, Wayne Mark Rooney, his address and date of birth.

He briefly had his hands in his pockets as he walked into the dock but swiftly moved them behind his back as he faced the judge.

When asked how he pleaded to the charge that he drove under the influence of alcohol while over the prescribed limit, he replied guilty.

Rooney said that he had apologised to his family for what he had done (Picture: Rex Shutterstock)

Kate Gaskell, prosecuting, said a police officer on patrol was on duty in Altrincham Road, Wilmslow at 2.10am when they noticed the rear tail-light of a Volkswagen Beetle on the left hand side had gone out.

She said the officer intended to follow the vehicle but it pulled over with Rooney seen to be at the wheel with a female in the front passenger seat.

Ms Gaskell said the footballer provided a positive roadside breath test before he was taken to a police station where the reading was confirmed.

The court heard that Rooney currently had three points on his driving licence for a speeding offence on August 24 2016.

After the hearing Rooney left court with his lawyers again followed by a media scrum of TV cameras, press photographers and reporters.

His entourage fought their way through the throng to a waiting people carrier with tinted windows and the footballer was driven away.

Rooney’s legal team asked District Judge John Temperley 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’.

Rooney was also told to pay £85 prosecution costs and a victim surcharge for the same amount.

The court heard Rooney was almost three times the legal limit.

A breathalyser test showed his alcohol level was 104 microgrammes in 100 millilitres of breath.

The drink-drive limit in England and Wales is 35 microgrammes per 100 millilitres of breath.

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.