Drink-driving Scotland star left personal number plate at crash scene

Published on Monday 23 November 2009 21:58

SCOTLAND international striker Ross McCormack was caught drink driving after he crashed his car and left his personalised number plate in the road.

The 8,000-a-week Cardiff City football player had been out celebrating and having "a few drinks" with friends after a 4-3 win against Sheffield United.

McCormack said he thought he was sober enough to drive, but he lost control of his 40,000 Range Rover Sport and crashed into a fence outside a restaurant in Cardiff Bay.

He left the scene of the accident last month, but police officers found the number plate R444 MCC and traced it to the footballer who lived less than a mile away.

Officers called at McCormack's home less than an hour later and breathalysed the footballer – who was found to be almost twice the legal drink-drive limit.

He told them he had not had a drink since arriving home.

Yesterday the 23-year-old footballer was disqualified from driving for 17 months and fined 2,600 at Cardiff Magistrates Court. He was given the option to take a drink-driving rehabilitation course.

Defending the player, Mark Hathan said: "Mr McCormack was idiotic to get in the vehicle in his condition. He has brought shame on himself, his employers at Cardiff City and his profession."

The former Rangers and Motherwell player, who has been capped four times for Scotland, had been celebrating Cardiff's win at a restaurant and a friend's house before he decided to drive home.

The footballer's silver Range Rover crashed into railings in Cardiff Bay at 3:44am on 25 October – but McCormack continued his journey.

No-one else was involved in the crash and no other vehicle was involved.

Prosecutor Sarah Asbrey said: "McCormack was driving his silver Range Rover Sport when he collided with metal railings.

"Police found a number plate and traced Ross McCormack as the vehicle's owner.

"He was questioned at his home. McCormack said he had been the driver and he hadn't drunk any alcohol since returning home."

He was breathalysed and found to be nearly double the drink-drive limit – with 67 micrograms of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35.

Mr Hathan said: "He offers his sincere apologies, he feels ashamed. It was a foolish decision to get into his vehicle in the condition he was in. He regrets it enormously."

He added: "He has been blessed with the skills that allow him to work as a professional footballer and he wishes to be a positive role model."

He said Cardiff City would be carrying out separate disciplinary procedures. Sentencing, deputy district judge Mark Layton said: "It was extremely foolish to take the decision to drive on the night in question."

He fined McCormack 2,500 with an additional 100 in costs and victim surcharge.

He disqualified him from driving for 17 months, but said McCormack would be eligible for a 25 per cent "discount" if he completes a drink-driving rehabilitation course at his own expense.

A spokesman for Cardiff City declined to comment. The Glasgow-born star was Cardiff's top scorer last season with 23 goals and has been valued at 5m.