The ex-wife of football legend George Best has been found guilty of drink-driving.
Alex Best, 47, was found to be three times the legal limit after she crashed into another vehicle near her home in Kingswood, Surrey on April 6.
She was married to Manchester United and Northern Ireland footballer Best for nine years. He died of multiple organ failure in 2005 aged 59, following years of alcohol addiction.
The former 'I'm a Celebrity' contestant pleaded guilty to the drink-driving charge at Guildford Magistrates' Court on Friday.
She was disqualified from driving for 24 months, given a 12-month community order and instructed to carry out 60 hours of unpaid work.
The court heard that her breathalyser reading was 106 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath – more than three times the legal limit of 35 microgrammes.
In mitigation, solicitor Robin Falvey described Best as “a person who never drinks and drives", adding that she had "never been in trouble before".
Mr Falvey said Best had been shopping when she received a phone call from a friend who invited her to the pub, where she enjoyed "what she described as spritzers".
“She realised that she should not drive,” he added, explaining that it was the day of the Grand National and she had spent a "considerable amount of time" trying to get a cab.
"That is when she made the bad mistake and drove," he said.
A two-vehicle collision, in which no-one was injured, then took place. Best called the police immediately afterwards to report the accident.
A second call was made to police soon after to raise concerns over the possible “intoxication” of one of the drivers, according to Prosecutor Darren Matravers.
"She is absolutely devastated by what has happened," Mr Falvey said following the court order, adding that the consequences would have a "huge impact" on her life.
The former WAG is currently unemployed and lives in a remote area. She will have to sell her cottage home, the solicitor said
