FORMER professional footballer and ex-Wrexham manager Dean Saunders has been jailed for 10 weeks after pleading guilty to failing to provide a breath sample to police.
Saunders, 55, of The Paddocks, Whitegate, was sentenced at Chester Magistrates Court today, Wednesday.
District Judge Nicholas Sanders blasted the current football pundit as 'arrogant' and believed he thought he was 'above the law' in refusing to give a breath test to officers at the roadside.
He was arrested, but failed to give a breath sample while in custody.
Saunders, who will also be banned from driving for 30 months upon release from prison, had initially pleaded not guilty to the two charges.
Capped 75 times by Wales, Saunders was stopped in Broughton on May 10 on suspicion of drink driving, having been at Chester Races.
READ >>> 72 children fed by foodbank as summer spike prompts call for volunteers
He said he had been out at Chester Races and had drunk two pints, while his lawyer suggested this may have 'interacted' with the medication he takes for injury to his knees and his inhaler for his asthma.
Police who arrested him said Saunders was slurring his speech and had to prop himself up against his Audi A8 car when he was asked to get out of the vehicle.
READ >>> Hundreds turn out for parkrun in memory of Terry Murphy
He indicated a change of plea to guilty the day before he was due to face trial.
District Judge Sanders told him: "Throughout these proceedings you have shown yourself to be arrogant, thinking you are someone whose previous and current role in the public eye entitles you to be above the law.
"In fact the opposite is true - someone in the public eye should expect a deterrent sentence when they flout the law."
Saunders was ordered to pay court costs of £620.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel