Fran Sandaza banned and fined for drunk driving

FOOTBALLER Francisco Sandaza has been banned from driving after he was caught going the wrong way down a one-way street while drunk.

The St Johnstone striker spent a night behind bars after being arrested with his girlfriend during the early hours of Thursday morning and appeared from custody at Perth Sheriff Court yesterday.

He admitted driving past a crowd of people while he was more than double the legal limit and was banned from the road for 16 months and fined £550.

Police, who were dealing with a disturbance outside a nightclub, initially let Sandaza go after pointing out to him that he was driving down a one-way street.

But they became concerned about the way he drove off and pulled him over again a short time later to breathalyse him. He failed the roadside breath test.

The 27-year-old was taken to police HQ in Perth and gave a reading of 71 mics compared to the 35 mics limit.

Sandaza’s arrest came just days after he was forced to apologise to his team-mates for brawling with them after being sent-off against Dundee United.

Sandaza, of Kinfauns, Perthshire, admitted drink driving in his Saab in South Street and Scott Street, Perth, on 27 April, while he was double the alcohol limit.

Further charges of failing to comply with a road sign and having no insurance were dropped by the Crown as part of a plea bargain.