Anish Vij
Shocking CCTV footage shows ex-Premier League footballer Danny Graham crash his Land Rover into a Co-op after drinking '10 pints'.
The former Middlesbrough, Watford, Swansea, Sunderland and Blackburn Rovers forward drove through the front of the Co-op Village Store, in Teesside where he lives, on November 4 2022.
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He was subsequently arrested and hospital tests showed that he had no less 230mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood.
The legal limit is 80mg.
Graham appeared at Teesside Magistrates’ Court where he admitted a single charge of drink-driving.
He said he 'can't remember' why he drove his 4x4 after drinking 'up to 10 pints'.
As a result, the 37-year-old has been disqualified from driving for two years, 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.
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Chairman of the bench Nigel Guerin, warned: "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."
CCTV footage shows the Land Rover smash through the doors of the shop, and collide into shelves of stock worth more than £5,000.
The total cost was estimated to be £32,000.
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The married father-of-three said he 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.
Magistrates were told Graham is 'fully aware it could easily have led to serious injuries or death of members of the public'.
Michael Lawson, prosecuting, said: “Luckily, no-one was injured as a result of this collision.”
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Choi Cheng, defending, said: “Mr Graham is very apologetic and deeply remorseful for this offence.
“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.
“This is the first time he has ever been in trouble and I expect it will be the last time he will be in trouble.
"This has had a dramatic effect upon him.”
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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.