Judge rejects Rooney’s plea for a £5k fine
WAYNE ROONEY’S plea to be spared community service for drink-driving was rejected by a judge yesterday, who said a fine would not be a harsh enough punishment for the multi-millionaire footballer.
The 31-year-old Everton star had written a personal letter to District Judge John Temperley in the hope that he would receive only a driving ban and a fine, which is limited to £5,000 for the most serious offences.
His legal team asked the judge to consider not imposing a community order because of his charitable work.
But the pleas fell on deaf ears as the judge banned Rooney from driving for two years and ordered him to perform 100 hours of unpaid work over the next 12 months. District Judge Temperley said he was “not convinced” that imposing a “very high level” fine would have the desired “punitive effect”.
The former England captain was breathalysed on his way home from a night out with a young woman, Laura Simpson, 29, whilst his wife Coleen and three children were in Majorca.
Issuing a statement after the hearing, Rooney said that he had demonstrated an “unforgivable lack of judgment” and that his actions had been “completely wrong”.