Former footballer jailed after breath test refusal

Former Liverpool striker Dean Saunders has been jailed for 10 weeks for failing to provide a breath specimen after being arrested on suspicion of drinkdriving.

Saunders, 55, who also played for Aston Villa and Derby County and was capped by Wales 75 times, refused to give a roadside breath test and, when taken to a police station, again failed to provide a breath sample, the court heard.

He pled not guilty at an earlier hearing but yesterday at Chester Magistrates’ Court admitted failing to comply with a roadside breath test and to provide a breath sample for analysis in Boughton, Chester, on May 10.

He was also banned from driving for 30 months and must pay court costs of £620.

Saunders said he had been out at Chester Races and had drunk two pints.

His lawyer suggested this may have “interacted” with the medication he takes for injury to his knees and his inhaler for his asthma.

Police who arrested him said Saunders was slurring his speech and had to prop himself up against his Audi A8 when asked to get out of the car.

He was due to go on trial yesterday but indicated through his lawyers on Tuesday that he would not be contesting the charges.

District Judge Nicholas Sanders told him: “Throughout these proceedings you have shown yourself to be arrogant, thinking you are someone whose previous and current role in the public eye entitles you to be above the law.

“In fact the opposite is true – someone in the public eye should expect a deterrent sentence when they flout the law.”

Picture: PA.