Leroy Lita given 18-month driving ban after admitting drink driving on South Tyneside | OneFootball

Sunderland’s professional development phase coach Leroy Lita, 41, has been banned from driving for 18 months after admitting an excess alcohol offence at South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court.

According to Sunderland Echo, he was stopped by police on Shields Road near Cleadon at 11.50pm on January 18 after his manner of driving raised concern. The officer noted a smell of alcohol and slightly slurred speech, a roadside test read 77mcg and the lowest evidential reading at Southwick Police Station was 74mcg, above the 35mcg limit.

Lita had initially pleaded not guilty, arguing police had blundered and believing the roadside figure was 38mcg rather than the evidential 74mcg. He later returned to court without representation, gave his address as Sunderland’s Academy of Light, and changed his plea to guilty.

District Judge Zoe Passfield imposed a £777 fine, a £311 victim surcharge and £300 costs after Lita disclosed an annual salary of £30,000. She offered a drink-driver rehabilitation course that could shorten the ban and warned that driving while disqualified could result in jail.

Lita told the court the incident was out of character, accepted he was over the limit and apologised. He said his work involves travelling to coach young players across the country and that he would accept the consequences.

The former striker enjoyed a 17-year professional career, including in the Premier League, with clubs including Middlesbrough and Reading.

Source: Sunderland Echo