Source: Daily_Mail
Steve Kean banned from driving for 18 months
Blackburn manager Steve Kean was given an 18-month driving ban and fined ?1,800 on Monday after being convicted of drink-driving.[LNB]He had earlier pleaded guilty but applied to escape the ban, claiming his drink was spiked.[LNB]But a judge at Macclesfield Magistrates' Court in Cheshire rejected the 'special reasons' application, saying Kean had failed to prove his drink had been laced.[LNB]The 43-year-old was almost twice the legal limit when he failed a breath test just hours after his side played Manchester United in the Premier League last May.[LNB] Guilty plea: Steve Kean arrives at court on Monday[LNB]Kean, of Weybridge, Surrey, changed his plea to guilty of driving with excess alcohol shortly before his trial was due to begin on Monday.[LNB]Kean was breathalysed after his black Mercedes was pulled over by police on the southbound carriageway of the M6 near Knutsford, Cheshire, at 8.30pm on May 14.[LNB]The prosecution say he sped past a marked patrol car at 90mph.[LNB]The officers, who were driving at 50mph, pulled him over and gave him a breath test which recorded 65 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath.[LNB]The legal limit is 35 micrograms per 100 millilitres of breath.[LNB]Kean admitted drinking two-and-a-half glasses of red wine with Sir Alex Ferguson after the game, and later a bottle of Budweiser at a pub near his Blackburn home.[LNB]A medical expert said that quantity of alcohol would have been insufficient to cause the breathalyser reading.[LNB]The defence argued that one of his drinks must have been spiked.[LNB] Breathalysed: Kean was nearly twice the legal limit[LNB]But the prosecution said there was another possibility, that Kean was lying about his alcohol consumption that day.[LNB]Giving evidence, Kean told District Judge Nicholas Sanders there was a 'celebratory' mood at Ewood Park after the game because United had clinched the Premier League title and the 1-1 result was considered a 'good point' for Rovers.[LNB]After both managers had taken part intheir press conferences, Kean hosted Sir Alex and around 10 United officials to a reception at his office.[LNB]Also present were around 10 Blackburn officials who enjoyed food, alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.[LNB]He said: 'When I first went in I poured Sir Alex a glass of red wine and I poured one for myself.[LNB]'I wished them all the best and congratulated them on winning the title.'[LNB]He said Sir Alex later poured him a second glass of red wine, and he had a further half glass.[LNB]'I was well aware that I was driving so I had two-and-a-half glasses over the course of an hour,' he told the court.[LNB] 'Celebratory mood': Kean patrol the touchline against Manchester United in May[LNB]After leaving the stadium, he went tohis north-west home to pack some clothes for the drive down to his family home in the south-east.[LNB]Before setting off on the motorway ataround 6.30pm, he stopped at the Whalley Arms pub to meet a group of friends who had been to the game.[LNB]He spent around 45 minutes at the pub, which was packed with Rovers, United and other football fans watching the highlights of the FA Cup final.[LNB]During that time he said a friend bought him a bottle of Budweiser which he drank out of a small glass.[LNB]He said he frequently left the glass unattended as he talked to football supporters, signed autographs and posed for photographs.[LNB]Questioned by counsel for the defenceJames Harrison about how he felt as he left the pub, Kean said: 'Football is an emotional game and your adrenaline is rushing but I feltfine.[LNB]'I was happy but not intoxicated, not at all.[LNB]'I have done that journey lots of times and wouldn't attempt to do it (drunk).'[LNB]A spokesman for Blackburn said the club would not be commenting on the case.[LNB] Thrifty Wolves has struck gold with bargains but Blackburn are still looking to spendRaul of the Rovers? Perhaps it's not so far-fetched after all...All the latest Blackburn news, features and opinion[LNB]
