Ex-Premier League striker Danny Graham admits drink-drive crash

No-one was injured in the crash but stock worth £5,000 was damaged, the court heard

A former Premier League footballer has admitted being almost three times over the alcohol limit when he crashed his Land Rover through a shop doorway.

Ex-Watford, Blackburn and Sunderland striker Danny Graham smashed into a Co-op store on the exclusive Wynyard estate in County Durham in November.

The 37-year-old pleaded guilty to drink-driving and has been banned from driving for two years.

Teesside Magistrates' Court heard no-one was injured in the crash.

Graham was also given a 12-month community order in which he must carry out 180 hours unpaid work and given a 90-day alcohol ban, monitored by a tag.

The court heard he had a reading of 230mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood.

The legal limit is 80mg.

Michael Lawson, prosecuting, said "luckily, no-one was injured" as a result of the crash on the estate where Graham lives on 4 November.

The shop was extensively damaged and stock worth more than £5,000 ruined.

The store had to close for five days and the total loss was estimated to be £32,000, magistrates were told.

Mr Lawson said Graham, who also played for Swansea, Middlesbrough and Carlisle, mounted the pavement and the car went into the shop by accident.

The former striker was said to be "deeply remorseful" for the crash

Chairman of the bench Nigel Guerin warned Graham he would be jailed if he flouted the driving ban, saying: "You are a well-known person and a lot of people in Wynyard will know you.

"If you get behind the wheel of a car I'm sure someone will get in touch with the police."

He said the alcohol monitoring tag would detect even a "small glass of sherry".

The court viewed CCTV from inside the shop which showed the Land Rover smash through the doors, an airbag deploy in the vehicle and the car hit shelves.

A staff member could then be seen approaching the vehicle.

Graham was arrested at a nearby house and it was not suggested he had fled the scene.

A probation report said the married father-of-three had been drinking with a friend after playing golf.

He thought he had drunk between "five and 10 pints" and rated his intoxication as eight or nine out of 10.

The probation report stated he had intended to get a taxi home, did not know why he drove and could not remember the smash "either due to the trauma of the crash or his level of intoxication".

Now a self-employed sports consultant who advises young players on their performance, Graham was said to have cut down on his drinking since the crash and does not drink at home.

Choi Cheng, defending, said his client was "very apologetic and deeply remorseful for this offence".

He said he had never been arrested before, was of previous good character and handed over what he claimed was "a most impressive set of character references" to magistrates.

Mr Cheng added: "Mr Graham, due to this unwise incident, experienced many things which he would never, ever, want to experience again.

"The offence dates back to November and he has had this worry hanging over his head for five months."

If Graham completes a driver rehabilitation course he will have his driving ban reduced by three months. He must also pay costs and a surcharge totalling £199.