FORMER Saints captain Claus Lundekvam has been banned from getting behind the wheel for 28 months after admitting drink driving and failing to stop at the scene of an accident.

Lundekvam, 36, was also ordered to do 250 hours unpaid work as part of a 12-month community sentence handed down by Basingstoke magistrates.

The Norwegian footballer crashed his Audi Quattro Q7 into the back of a van on the northbound M3 near Winchester after driving himself home from a charity golf event more than two-and-a-half times over the legal drink-drive limit.

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Sentencing Lundekvam chairman of the bench Gwen Shaw, told him: "The purpose of this sentence is public protection".

She also warned he may have to wear "special clothing" when he carries out his punishment.

Lundekvam's solicitor Adam Norris, said in mitigation he had not fled the scene, but breached a legal technicality by not remaining there.

Police arrested him shortly after the collision on May 6, at a service station about a quarter of a mile away from the scene of the accident, near Junction 9.

Lundekvam made 420 appearances during his 12 years at Saints, retiring last year.

Mr Norris said Lundekvam was of "positive good character, who gives "unstintingly of his time, energy and money to good causes".

Magistrates also ordered Lundekvam to pay £43 in costs.