Tuesday 17 April 2018 11:17, UK
Republic of Ireland footballer Darron Gibson has pleaded guilty to a charge of drink driving following a St Patrick's Day crash.
Gibson was three times over the drink-drive limit when he smashed his Mercedes 4x4 into parked cars on Saturday, March 17, the South Tyneside Magistrates' Court heard.
The 30-year-old midfielder was on his way to meet colleagues at Sunderland's Academy of Light when he was involved in the collision on Dovedale Road.
After he was charged, Gibson and Sunderland ended his contract by mutual consent.
Rebecca Laverick, prosecuting, said an initial roadside breath test recorded 105 microgrammes of alcohol per 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35.
When he was formally tested again at the police station he was found to have 95mg of alcohol per 100ml and he was charged using that lower figure.
Mrs Laverick said: "The defendant was spoken to at the roadside, police officers established he was under the influence.
"He said he had had two drinks the night before.
"That didn't coincide with the manner he was presenting in, his speech was slurred and he smelled of alcohol."
Mrs Laverick said Gibson had a previous conviction for drink-driving and driving without due care and attention in September 2015.
