Ex-Saints and England player banned from driving (From Daily Echo)

Ex-Southampton and England goalkeeper Peter Shilton banned from driving

11:38am Tuesday 19th March 2013 in Crime

Peter Shilton

FORMER SAINTS and England goalkeeper Peter Shilton has been 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 this morning.

The court heard that he 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 home of his girlfriend, Stephanie Hayward, in Manor Road, Colchester, Essex, at time and was caught after an anonymous tip-off to police.

As he left court, Shilton, England's most capped player, 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.''

Shilton, of Red Lane, Burton Green, Kenilworth, Warwickshire, wore a charcoal suit with a tie today and spoke only to confirm his name and address and enter a plea.

He arrived with singer Ms Hayward, who sat in court wearing a black dress with lace sleeves.

Paul Tawn, mitigating, said Shilton would find it difficult to pay any fine because his finances were ''complicated'' as he is 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.

Ms Perkins-Van Mil warned Shilton he could face custody if he breached the ban and ordered him to pay the fine in full before leaving the building.

Shilton made 125 appearances for his country.

He played more than 1,000 competitive matches for 11 different clubs including Stoke City, Nottingham Forest, Derby and Southampton, during his career.