Four-year driving ban for alcoholic Ray Wilkins

Former England midfielder Ray Wilkins has told a court he is an alcoholic who has no choice but to stay away from booze or face ruining his life, as he was given a four-year ban for drink-driving.The 59-year-old pleaded guilty to the offence at Uxbridge Magistrates' Court after being found to have been three times over the limit.A member of the public spotted him driving his Mercedes in the middle of the road and straddling a bus lane along the A4 northern perimeter road in London on July 1.He was seen striking a kerb and swigging alcohol from the bottle behind the wheel.The member of the public then took his keys away when the car stopped, in order to prevent a possible accident.District judge Tim Boswell gave Wilkins, who has two previous drink-driving convictions dating back to 2013, a 10-week suspended prison sentence, ordered him to do 140 hours' unpaid work and disqualified him from driving for 48 months.Standing in the dock, Wilkins said: "Abstinence is the only way I can cure this situation."

Source: PA