Football
PA Sport 8y

Ray Wilkins given four-year ban for drink driving, says 'I am an addict'

Former England midfielder 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.

Wilkins, 59, 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 such 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, Wilkins said: "Abstinence is the only way I can cure this situation."

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