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

Sunderland’s professional development phase coach Leroy Lita has been banned from driving for 18 months after admitting drink driving on South Tyneside.

According to Sunderland Echo, the 41-year-old was stopped at 11.50pm on 18 January on Shields Road near Cleadon.

Prosecutor Jonathan Stirland said PC Cockerill halted Lita due to his manner of driving, noting a smell of alcohol and slightly slurred speech. A roadside breath test read 77mcg, then an evidential station test returned 74mcg. The legal limit is 35mcg.

Lita had initially pleaded not guilty, believing the roadside figure was less than 40mcg, and an expert report was suggested before trial. He later returned without representation and changed his plea.

District Judge Zoe Passfield fined him £777, plus a £311 victim surcharge and £300 costs, after he disclosed an annual salary of £30,000. She offered a drink-drive rehabilitation course that could reduce the ban and warned that breaching the disqualification could lead to jail.

He told the court the offence was out of character, accepted he was over the limit and apologised, adding his work involves travelling across the country to coach young players. The former striker had a 17-year career, including in the Premier League, with Middlesbrough and Reading among his clubs.

Source: Sunderland Echo