Derby County legend Peter Shilton given 20-month ban from the road as he admits drink-driving
ENGLAND and Derby County legend Peter Shilton was yesterday banned from the road after admitting drink-driving.
The 63-year-old pleaded guilty to the charge during a 15-minute hearing at Colchester Magistrates' Court.
The court heard that the ex-goalkeeper was found to have more than double the legal amount of alcohol in his system when he was breathalysed on February 24.
He was driving a 2010-registered Jaguar XF near the Essex home of his girlfriend, Stephanie Hayward, at the time and was caught after an anonymous tip-off to police.
With every new aerial installed by AMC aerials I will fit an extra point in your bedroom or kitchen for an extra £10
New aerials fitted from £70
Call Adrian on 01332 418856
Terms: Must be an aerial supplied and fitted by AMC aerials
Contact: 01332 418856
Valid until: Friday, July 12 2013
As he left court, Shilton, who won a record 125 England caps, said: "I've nothing to say, really – just that I had a very fair hearing."
He left in a taxi from the nearby Colchester Town railway station.
Magistrate Ilona Perkins-Van Mil banned Shilton from driving for 20 months and ordered him to pay fines and costs totalling £1,020. The court heard that Shilton had been drinking wine at a family celebration throughout the day but did not think he was over the limit.
Prosecutor Joseph Stickings said police were called to Ms Hayward's home at about 8.35pm. They had received an anonymous tip-off that a man, who seemed drunk, had been driving nearby.
"As police were speaking to a woman at the address, Mr Shilton pulled up behind the police car," Mr Stickings said. "The officer spoke to him and could smell alcohol on his breath. He was tested and provided a positive breath test."
Paul Tawn, in mitigation, said Shilton would find it difficult to pay any fine because his finances were "complicated" as he was currently going through a divorce and selling his house.
He added: "He'd had a very pleasant day at a family celebration and had consumed wine with meals throughout the day. He had gone to move his car closer to his partner's address because he had an early start.
"He didn't travel far, just a couple of streets, and wasn't driving very quickly at all.
"He was aware he had consumed alcohol but it was throughout the day so he did not think he was over the limit – if he had, he would not have pulled up behind the police officer."
Mr Tawn described the arrest as a "matter of deep regret" for Shilton, who has three points on his licence following a speeding offence in March 2011. As well as appearing 125 times for his country, Shilton played more than 1,000 competitive matches for 11 different clubs, including Leicester, Stoke, Nottingham Forest, Derby and Southampton, during his career.
Comments
by seisnag
Wednesday, March 20 2013, 4:31PM
“Silly old Shilts! Still he has come clean, and taken the penalty like a man.”