Former Premier League striker Danny Graham had drunk 'up to 10 pints' before he crashed his Land Rover through a Wynyard shop - and 'can't remember' why he got behind the wheel.
The dad-of-three, who started his football career at Middlesbrough FC, was found to be almost three times the legal limit after he ploughed his 4x4 through the store front of the Co-op Village Store in Wynyard, Teesside, GazetteLive reports. He's now been banned from the roads for two years and given a 90-day drinking ban after admitting drink driving at Teesside Magistrates' Court.
Graham also turned out for Sunderland, Blackburn and Swansea during his career has explained how he had been playing golf before going to a friend's house to enjoy some drinks. He told a probation officer that he'd had 'between five and 10 pints' and had intended on getting a taxi home.
But instead Graham got behind the wheel - though he does not recall why. Magistrates heard how, luckily, no one was injured in the crash, before staff found the intoxicated former football ace behind the wheel.
Attending court wearing a navy suit with slicked-back hair, Graham could be seen looking down as CCTV of the crash was played in the Middlesbrough court. It showed the Land Rover ploughing through the front of the store just over a minute after a customer left with their dog.
Police were called and the 37-year-old was taken into the home of a witness to await for the arrival of officers for his "protection", prosecutor Mike Lawson said. The defendant was taken to the University Hospital of North Tees, in Stockton, in an ambulance where he was subject to the drink drive procedure. Blood taken had no less than 230mg of alcohol in 100ml. The legal limit is 80mg.
He spent the night in a prison cell following the crash. The court heard it is the first time he has been arrested.
Choi Cheng, mitigating, said: "Mr Graham is very apologetic. He is deeply remorseful for this offence. He is a man of previous good character having never been to a court for anything in the past."
Mr Lawson outlined that around £5,000 worth of damage was caused to the store and it had to remain closed for five days - resulting in an estimated total loss of £32,000.
“Mr Graham, due to this incident, experienced many things which he would never want to experience again,” added Mr Cheng. “This is the first time he has ever been in trouble and I expect it will be the last time he will be in trouble.
"This has had a dramatic effect upon him.” Graham told probation that he described himself as being an "eight or nine out of 10 for intoxication in terms of how drunk he felt".
He doesn’t not remember his thought process as to why he got into the car. The court heard how he remembers very little about the events of the evening because of the trauma of the crash and the level of intoxication.
Magistrates were told Graham is “fully aware it could easily have led to serious injuries or death of members of the public”. Graham, of Wynyard, attended court wearing a dark navy suit on Friday morning.
The 37-year-old was slapped with a 12 month community order in which time he must complete 180 hours of unpaid work. He will also be subject to a 90 day drinking ban which will be monitored through a tag - which will notify the authorities if he has even a "small glass of sherry".
He had been banned from driving for 24 months - although will be allowed to complete the drink driver rehabilitation course which will reduce the disqualification by three months. He must also pay a surcharge and costs of £199.
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