Wilkins misses court date for alcoholism treatment
FORMER Rangers footballer-turned-pundit Ray Wilkins is being treated at a rehabilitation centre for alcoholism, a court has heard.
The former Chelsea and Manchester United star was due to face magistrates in Uxbridge, West London, yesterday accused of drink-driving.
But after the 59-year-old failed to appear, his barrister said he could not attend because he was on a 28-day residential rehabilitation course at the Priory Hospital in Woking, Surrey.
The case was adjourned for a week, with chairman of the bench Nash Gill saying that Wilkins would be required to attend on July 25 or provide significant medical reasons why he could not.
His barrister, Sarah-Kate McIntyre, indicated to the court that Wilkins would enter a guilty plea to the charge.
The former midfielder has twice previously been convicted of drink-driving and disqualified. He was arrested on July 1 on Northern Perimeter Road near Heathrow Airport and charged the following day.
He is accused of being almost three times over the drink-drive limit.
Ms McIntyre told the court that if she could enter a plea on Mr Wilkins’ behalf in his absence “it would be a guilty plea”, adding: “I have firm instructions from Mr Wilkins that he accepts the prosecution case in its full form.”
She continued: “He is realistic, given his previous, that you will be keeping your options (regarding possible sentences) open.
“The reason for his not attending today is because he is undergoing a 28-day rehabilitation programme at the Priory Hospital.”
Ms McIntyre attempted to get the case delayed for six weeks, and then four weeks, in order for Mr Wilkins, from Cobham in Surrey, to complete his course.
She cited a letter from a psychiatrist at the Priory which said the stress of breaking the course to come to court could trigger a relapse.
However, Mr Nash adjourned for a week, saying: “He has had ample opportunity to tell the prosecuting authority and the court of the dates.
“It is not satisfactory by any standard.
“It is procedurally not right, it is technically not right and it’s morally not right.”