Ex-England captain Wayne Rooney pleads guilty to drink-driving

[September 18, 2017]  LONDON (Reuters) - Former England soccer captain Wayne Rooney received a two-year driving ban on Monday after pleading guilty in a British court to drink-driving, the Press Association news agency reported.

Rooney apologized for his "unforgivable lack of judgment" in a statement issued after he entered his guilty plea at Stockport Magistrates' Court, near Manchester in northwest England.

The 31-year-old was arrested in the early hours of Sept. 1 while driving over the prescribed alcohol limit in the northwestern county of Cheshire.

Television footage showed him arriving at court on Monday wearing a dark suit.

In addition to the two-year driving ban, Rooney was ordered to perform 100 hours of unpaid work as part of a 12-month community order, the PA reported.

"I want publicly to apologize for my unforgivable lack of judgment in driving while over the legal limit. It was completely wrong," Rooney said in a statement.

Rooney announced in August he was retiring from national team duty, ending a 14-year stint in which he became England's top scorer with 53 goals.

Wayne Rooney, Everton striker and former England captain arrives at Stockport Magistrates court, Stockport, Britain September 18, 2017. REUTERS/Andrew Yates

In July, Rooney returned to Everton, his boyhood club, after 13 years with Manchester United.

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

(Reporting by Estelle Shirbon; Editing by William Schomberg)

[© 2017 Thomson Reuters. All rights reserved.]

Copyright 2017 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.