Drink-driver Wayne Rooney ordered to do unpaid work

Footballer sentenced for ‘terrible error of judgement’

Wayne Rooney will have to carry out unpaid work in the community for his “terrible error of judgment” in drinkdriving on a night out.

The former England and Manchester United captain was caught driving a woman’s Volkswagen Beetle in the early hours of September 1 when he was nearly three times the legal limit.

Admitting the offence yesterday at Stockport Magistrates’ Court, Rooney, 31, conceded he had let his family and himself down “very badly” and had also disappointed his fans as he received a two-year driving ban.

His legal team had asked District Judge John Temperley to consider whether imposing an additional community order would be “proportionate” as they highlighted his charitable work and the “unbelievable” media focus on him since the incident.

But after hearing that Rooney was likely to be fined two weeks’ wages by his employers, Everton FC, the judge said he was “not convinced” that a financial penalty would have the “same punitive effect” as a community order.

As part of his sentence Rooney, of Prestbury, Cheshire must complete 100 hours of unpaid work in the community in his local area in the next 12 months.

Rooney had reportedly left a bar in Wilmslow, Cheshire, in a taxi with lettings agent Laura Simpson, 29, and later went on to take the wheel of her vehicle. Police stopped him in Altrincham Road at 2.10am after they noticed a rear tail-light. He was taken to a local police station where he produced a breath test reading of 104 microgrammes per 100 millilitres of breath, the legal limit in England and Wales being 35 microgrammes.

His solicitor Michael Rainford told the hearing: “Wayne Rooney wishes to express his genuine remorse for what was a terrible mistake, a terrible error of judgment on his part that evening.”

Picture: Getty. Footballer Wayne Rooney leaving Stockport Magistrates Court after facing a drink-driving charge.