Soccer: Footballer gets driving ban and community service

Former England footballer Carlton Palmer was today beginning a two-year driving ban for a string of offences arising out of a drink-drive incident.

The 35-year-old midfielder, currently on loan to Sheffield Wednesday, was also ordered to carry out 200 hours of community service.

The footballer crashed his Range Rover into two taxis, fled the scene of the accident and later failed a breath test, Chesterfield Magistrates Court heard yesterday.

At the time of the accident in November, last year, Palmer was at the wheel of his four wheel drive when it crashed into the rear of a taxi in Dronfield, Derbyshire.

A few minutes after the accident, Palmer reversed into a second taxi which had arrived at the scene and then drove off without giving his details.

Police went to Palmer’s home on Croft Lane, Whirlow, South Yorkshire, where he gave a positive breath test, which showed that he had 84 micrograms of alcohol to 100 millilitres of breath - almost two-and-a-half times the legal limit, the court heard.

Palmer pleaded not guilty to driving with excess alcohol, driving without due care, failing to stop at the scene of an accident, failing to report an accident and criminal damage.

Mick Freeman, defending, told District Judge John Friel that the footballer had never been correctly identified as the driver involved in the incident.

But the judge said: ‘‘Two of the passengers in the taxi were both football supporters and they recognised Palmer instantly.

‘‘I have got to take a very grim view of what has happened. The evidence cried out for an explanation from this defendant, but he has never given one and I have had to draw some inference from that.’’

The judge found Palmer guilty of all the offences.

Sentencing him to 200 hours community service and banning him from driving for two years, the judge said: ‘‘The court has to take a very dim view of this. You were way above the limit and by leaving the scene I drew the inference that the purpose was to avoid being protected by the police.’’

Palmer was also been ordered to pay £431 prosecution costs.

The footballer refused to comment outside court.