Darron Gibson avoids jail after admitting second charge of drink driving
He's been sentenced at South Tyneside
Former Everton midfielder Darron Gibson has avoided a jail sentence after admitting a second drink-drive charge in less than three years.
He's been handed a two-year community order and banned from driving for 40 months at South Tyneside Magistrates' Court after he admitted drink driving.
The 30-year-old was three times over the limit when he smashed his Mercedes 4x4 into parked cars on St Patrick's Day, South Tyneside Magistrates' Court was told last month.
The incident in Sunderland followed a serious collision in 2015 when his car hit three cyclists who were fixing a wheel on the pavement.
Gibson, who played for Manchester United, Everton and Sunderland, knocked a taxi's wing mirror off in West Boldon in the latest incident, but carried on and smashed into parked cars in Dovedale Road, Fulwell, Sunderland, as he drove to the club's training ground.
His grey 4x4 ended up on the pavement and the road was strewn with debris.
When Gibson admitted the offence last month, the Chairman of the Bench David Randall said: "Mr Gibson, this is the second offence in less than three years.''
Aggravating factors included the damage caused to the parked vehicles.
Speaking about sentencing, Mr Randall said: "We feel this aggravates it into the custody band.''
Sunderland terminated his contract after he was charged following the March 17 crash.
District Judge Roger Elsey did not jail him after hearing the former Sunderland player was going through a number of psychological issues at the time, for which he is now receiving treatment.