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Ex-footballer Ray Wilkins given four-year ban for drink-driving

Former England footballer Ray Wilkins leaves Uxbridge Magistrates' Court in London. Picture by Lauren Hurley, Press Association
Former England footballer Ray Wilkins leaves Uxbridge Magistrates' Court in London. Picture by Lauren Hurley, Press Association Former England footballer Ray Wilkins leaves Uxbridge Magistrates' Court in London. Picture by Lauren Hurley, Press Association

FORMER England footballer Ray Wilkins has told a court he is an alcoholic who has no choice but to stay away from booze or face ruining his life, as he was given a four-year ban for drink-driving.

The 59-year-old pleaded guilty to the offence at Uxbridge Magistrates' Court after being found to have been three times over the limit.

A member of the public spotted him driving his Mercedes in the middle of the road and straddling a bus lane along the A4 northern perimeter road in London on July 1.

He was seen striking a kerb and swigging alcohol from the bottle behind the wheel.

The member of the public then took his keys away when the car stopped, in order to prevent a possible accident.

District judge Tim Boswell gave Wilkins, who has two previous drink-driving convictions dating back to 2013, a 10-week suspended prison sentence, ordered him to do 140 hours' unpaid work and disqualified him from driving for 48 months.

Standing in the dock on Monday, Wilkins said: "Abstinence is the only way I can cure this situation."

Wilkins's lawyer Sarah-Kate McIntyre told the court of his long-running battle against alcoholism, saying the former top-flight footballer was "ashamed and embarrassed" to be in the dock.

He believes he "blacked out", she said.

Ms McIntyre said that Wilkins appreciates the "danger he caused to himself and the public" as well as the hardship he has caused his family, and that he "accepts full responsibility" for the offence.

Wilkins, who was found to have 100mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath, is on an intensive residential rehabilitation course at the Priory Hospital in Woking, Surrey.

On the offence, Ms McIntyre said that Wilkins "does not remember anything" that happened as he left a golf club where he was attending a charity event.

She said: "He believes he blacked out, as he has done before... Mercifully no-one was hurt.

"He was cooperative with the police. His reaction was: 'That's my life f****d.' He is now working hard to turn his life around.

"He also knows that his marriage is in jeopardy if he continues to drink," she added.

Ms McIntyre said Wilkins, of Cobham, Surrey, had done work with Sporting Chance, a clinic which was set up by former England and Arsenal captain Tony Adams in 2000 so that sports stars could get support in tackling their alcoholism.

When Wilkins left that facility "he did not believe he was an alcoholic – he does now," she said.

The member of the public flagged down a police car on the night he spotted Wilkins drink-driving.

A police officer noticed that the ex-footballer's eyes were "glazed, he was unsteady on his feet and there was a smell of alcohol" coming from him, according to prosecutor Izolda Gribbin.

Getting to his feet in the dock, Wilkins told the judge that his previous treatment with Sporting Chance had been "residential but nowhere near as intense as I am doing now".

His current treatment is due to end on August 1.

He stood again when the judge asked if he was aware that he must not drink again after Ms McIntyre pointed out that "should he relapse, his marriage would be in jeopardy".

Wilkins said: "Yes, I do. Abstinence is the only way I can cure this situation."

He is also doing work with the League Managers Association.

The judge told Wilkins: "You provided your guilty plea promptly. You are now someone who recognises the problem you have and you are taking steps to deal with that problem. It will not be easy. This court sees many people battling addiction so you have a tough road ahead."

The judge said he appreciated that Wilkins had a "genuine desire to change".

Wilkins responded by saying "Absolutely" as the judge spoke directly to him.

He was also ordered to pay £85 costs and a £115 victim surcharge.

Before leaving the dock, Wilkins, smartly dressed in a black three-piece suit, told the judge: "Thank you for dealing with it as swiftly as you have, sir. It has been a great help."

Wilkins was capped 84 times by the Three Lions, including at the 1986 Mexico World Cup.

He played for AC Milan and Paris St Germain before going on to become a manager and coach for teams including Chelsea and Queens Park Rangers.

Outside court, he said: "I will be judged on the crime I have committed and that is 100 per cent (right).

"I only ask I will not be judged on the alcohol problem I have. I am an addict. I also ask that my family can be shown just a tad more privacy. I would be delighted with that."