Rangers’ Steven Simonsen guilty of drink driving

Simonsen, who won four England under-21 caps and also played for Everton, was found to be over the limit in South Shields, South Tyneside, while driving back to his parents’ home in the town, hours after being part of his club’s matchday squad.

The 34-year-old had been drinking with friends in Sunderland on 22 February – after being on the bench for Rangers’ home clash with Stenhousemuir – before heading to two clubs in South Shields.

When stopped by police, he recorded a breath test reading of 54mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath – one-and-a-half times over the legal limit of 35mcg.

Simonsen, who is originally from South Shields, admitted driving with excess alcohol at South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court yesterday.

Laila Ghahhari, defending, said: “On 22 February, he had been playing for Rangers in Glasgow and later went to  Sunderland to see a friend competing in another sporting event.

“He had two bottles of Desperado alcohol in Sunderland from about 9:30pm, which is of 5.9 per cent proof.”

Simonsen, of Southport,  Merseyside, was banned from driving for 12 months and fined £650, as well as being ordered  to pay court costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £60.