Chelsea footballer Danny Drinkwater has been banned from driving after ploughing his Range Rover through a wall while twice the legal drink-drive limit.
The 29-year-old and two female passengers were treated for minor injuries after the crash in Mere, Cheshire, on 8 April.
Stockport Magistrates’ Court heard he caused £50,000 of damage to the car.
Drinkwater admitted drink-driving and was banned for 20 months.
Robin Sellars, defending, said Drinkwater was “fully compliant” with police and said he had been to a private function, with a friend expected to drive him home.
However, his friend was unable to do so and Drinkwater decided to drive himself to his home in Nether Alderley, Cheshire.
Mr Sellars added: “He only had himself to blame. He understands he’s done wrong.
“He instructs me he will be employing a driver.”
Mr Sellars said Drinkwater had no previous convictions and asked for him to be punished with a fine rather than community service.
But District Judge Mark Hadfield rejected this and sentenced him to a 12-month community order with 70 hours’ community service.
The former Manchester United trainee was also ordered to pay £85 prosecution costs and an £85 victim surcharge.
Mr Hadfield said: “You knew when you got behind the wheel of that vehicle you should not have been driving.”
The court heard he suffered a graze to his forehead when his car went through a wall in Ashley Road near to Tatton Park country house.
Prosecutor Subi Chowdhury said Drinkwater himself called emergency services after the crash at about 00:30 BST and admitted drinking alcohol to police officers.
He gave a reading at Middlewich Police station of 87 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 milliliters of breath, with the legal limit being 35 microgrammes.
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