Drunken pundit Sinclair racially abused cop

FORMER England star Trevor Sinclair has been ordered to do 150 hours’ community service and given a 20-month drink-driving ban for racially abusing a policeman after being arrested while twice over the limit.

The TV pundit asked the officer if he was being arrested because he was black and accusing the police of racism before urinating in a patrol car, Blackpool Magistrates Court heard.

Sinclair continued being racist after he was taken to the cells at Blackpool police station.

The 44-year-old, of Victory Boulevard, Lytham, Lancashire, pleaded guilty yesterday to drink-driving and a racially aggravated public order offence on November 12 last year.

Passing sentence, District Judge Jeff Brailsford ordered Sinclair to pay £500 compensation to Constable Gareth Evans and gave him 150 hours’ community service for each offence, to run concurrently.

He also banned him from the roads for 20 months.

Nick Freeman, representing Sinclair, said the “catalyst” for his behaviour that night was being subjected to racism in front of his family while out having a meal hours earlier.

Mr Freeman said a woman had approached the father-offour, patting him on the head and calling him a “little choco-

Driving ban: Trevor Sinclair

late man”. After Sinclair’s guilty pleas, the prosecution dropped other charges including assault on a police officer, failing to provide a specimen and criminal damage. Jim Mowbray, prosEMMA ecuting, told the court that at around 8.45pm on November 12 last year police were alerted to an incident at Sinclair’s home but were told he had left in his car and may have been drinking.

Patrols found his car stopped in the middle of the road in Clifton Drive, Blackpool, after he had been in a collision with a woman who had stepped into his path after getting out of a taxi.

In a statement read to the court, Const Gareth Evans said: “It appeared he was drunk, unsteady on his feet and his eyes were glazed.”

Sinclair was found to be twice over the drink-drive limit, giving a reading of 72 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath, with the limit being 35mg. He was cautioned and arrested and a secure van requested to the roadside — but then his behaviour changed, the court heard.

Before his arrest Sinclair was very calm, polite and courteous, but he started getting more confrontational and aggressive.

During the search the officer discovered Sinclair’s trousers were wet — and that he had urinated while in the police car.

And when Sinclair was put in the back of the police van, he called the officer a “white... c***”.

Const Evans’ statement added: “Sinclair’s behaviour following his arrest was awful. I’m not a racist.

“His behaviour was extremely racist.”