Latest: Over-the-limit Wayne Rooney hit with driving ban and community work order

Footballer Wayne Rooney been banned from driving and ordered to carry out unpaid community work after pleading guilty to drink driving.

Latest: Over-the-limit Wayne Rooney hit with driving ban and community work order

Update 11.20am: Footballer Wayne Rooney been banned from driving and ordered to carry out unpaid community work after pleading guilty to drink driving.

The Everton striker and former England captain apologised for an "unforgivable lack of judgment" after he was sentenced for being nearly three times the drink drive limit on a night out while his pregnant wife and their three sons were on holiday.

He was stopped by police when driving a woman's black Volkswagen Beetle in Wilmslow, Cheshire, at 2am on September 1.

Rooney, 31, was later arrested and bailed, and on Monday he appeared at Stockport Magistrates' Court where he 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'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 was told that a breathalyser test measured Rooney's alcohol level to be 104 microgrammes in 100 millilitres of breath.

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

In a statement issued to the Press Association after his plea, 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 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 his boyhood club Everton, which he rejoined during the summer break.

He has been married to his high-school sweetheart Coleen since 2008 and they have three children together.

Mrs Rooney recently announced she is pregnant with their fourth child.

Update 10.54am: Footballer Wayne Rooney has been banned from driving for two years and ordered to perform 100 hours of unpaid work as part of a 12-month community order at Stockport Magistrates' Court after pleading guilty to drink driving.

Update 10.34amWayne Rooney has pleaded guilty to a charge of drink driving at Stockport Magistrates' Court.

Earlier:Former England captain Wayne Rooney has arrived at court to face a drink drive charge.

The Everton striker, 31, made no comment as he was confronted by a media scrum outside Stockport Magistrates' Court on Monday morning.

Wearing a blue suit with his hands in his pockets, he walked into the court building accompanied by a small entourage.

He was charged after being stopped while driving a black Volkswagen Beetle in Wilmslow, Cheshire, at 2am on September 1.

The car belonged to a woman he had met in the Bubble Room bar in Alderley Edge on a night out.

Rooney 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 his boyhood club Everton, which he rejoined during the summer break.

He has been married to his high-school sweetheart Coleen since 2008 and they have three children together.

Mrs Rooney recently announced she is pregnant with their fourth child.

AP

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