Wayne Rooney charged with drink-driving in VW Beetle at 2am, Cheshire Police say
Former England captain bailed until 18 September
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Wayne Rooney has been charged with drink-driving after being pulled over in the early hours of Friday morning, Cheshire Police has said.
A statement confirmed the 31-year-old Everton striker was stopped shortly after 2am following a night out on Thursday and has since been bailed, to appear in court on 18 September.
It read: “Cheshire police has charged a man with drink-driving following a vehicle stop in Wilmslow.
“The man was arrested shortly after 2:00am today, Friday 1 September, after officers stopped a black VW Beetle on Altrincham Road, Wilmslow.
“Wayne Rooney, aged 31, of Collar House Drive, Prestbury, has since been charged with driving whilst over the prescribed limit.
“Rooney has been released on bail and is due to appear at Stockport Magistrates’ Court on 18/9/2017.”
Earlier in the night, the footballer had been pictured at the Bubble Room Bar in Alderley Edge, with the image appearing on Instagram at about 8.30pm.
Rooney is England’s all-time leading scorer with 53 goals in 119 appearances and last week announced his international retirement after leaving Manchester United to return to his boyhood club, Everton, meaning he is not with the England squad in Malta ahead of their 2018 World Cup qualifier on Friday night.
His arrest comes 13 years to the day that he joined United, where he went on to become the club’s record goalscorer and captain before departing earlier in the summer.
The Croxteth-born striker recently announced that he and wife, Colleen, are expecting their fourth child to join their three sons Klay, Kai and Kit.
The incident also comes 10 months after he was seen “stumbling around” at a wedding reception following England’s 2018 World Cup qualifier victory over Scotland, in which the then-captain was said to be in a state where he could “hardly speak” after crashing the party with other members of the squad.
Having spent the last 12 years living in Prestbury, Rooney and his family are planning to move into a new £10m mansion in the Cheshire countryside.