Danny Drinkwater: Chelsea and England player handed 20-month ban after admitting drink-driving

Midfielder caused £50,000 worth of damage to his Land Rover and suffered grazed forehead in crash

Danny Drinkwater gave a reading of 87 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, with the legal limit being 35 microgrammes (Adam Davy/PA)

Danny Drinkwater has been banned from the roads for 20 months after smashing his Range Rover through a wall while twice the legal drink drive limit.

The Chelsea footballer, who had three England caps, had two female passengers in his £125,000 car when he caused £50,000 worth of damage to the vehicle and suffered a grazed forehead, Stockport Magistrates’ Court heard.

He gave a reading of 87 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, with the legal limit being 35 microgrammes.

The 29-year-old midfielder pleaded guilty to drink driving during a brief appearance in the dock, before he was banned from the roads for 20 months and ordered to do 70 hours of community service.

He was also given a 12-month community order and ordered to pay £85 prosecution costs and an £85 victim surcharge.

The Sun reported at the time Drinkwater had crashed his car after a chav-themed charity party.

Drinkwater was also given a 12-month community order and ordered to pay £85 prosecution costs and an £85 victim surcharge.

Subi Chowdhury, prosecuting, told the court Drinkwater himself called emergency services after the crash at about 12.30am on 8 April.

His car had gone through a wall on Ashley Road, Mere, near to Tatton Park, a country house in Cheshire.

Paramedics and police arrived and Drinkwater admitted to officers he had been drinking.

His road-side test proved positive and he was taken to Middlewich Police station.

Drinkwater was then put in the cells, the court heard, and charged with drink driving.

Drinkwater signed for Chelsea from league-winning Leicester City in 2017 for £35m but has failed to make his mark in the London side.

He has not featured under Italian manager Maurizio Sarri or played a competitive game for 13 months.

He started his football career as a trainee with Manchester United and has also played for Watford, Huddersfield, Cardiff and Barnsley.