Wayne Rooney apologises after pleading guilty to drink-driving charge

  • 19/09/2017
Rooney was stopped near his home on September 1.
Rooney was stopped near his home on September 1. Photo credit: Getty

Everton striker Wayne Rooney has apologised for his "unforgivable lack of judgement" after pleading guilty to a drink-driving charge.

Rooney was banned from driving for two years and ordered to perform 100 hours of unpaid work as part of a 12-month community order.

The former England captain was on a night out on September 1 when he was stopped by police driving a woman's black Volkswagen Beetle at 2am.

Rooney, 31, was later arrested and bailed and on Monday he entered his guilty plea at Stockport Magistrates' Court.

"Following today's court hearing I want publicly to apologise for my unforgivable lack of judgement in driving while over the legal limit. It was completely wrong." Rooney said in a statement released to Press Association Sport.

"I have already said sorry to my family, my manager and chairman and everyone at Everton FC. Now I want to apologise to all the fans and everyone else who has followed and supported me throughout my career.

"Of course I accept the sentence of the court and hope that I can make some amends through my community service."

Rooney's apology had a mixed response on Twitter. Some replied with praise, saying that it takes a man to apologise, others rejected his words and many more gave him sarcastic offers of a lift to work on Tuesday morning.            

PA