Darron Gibson banned from driving after hit and run on cyclists
DERRY-BORN footballer Darron Gibson has been banned from driving after he hit a cyclist while drink-driving.
The Everton player reland star ploughed into three cyclists who had stopped on a pavement to fix a chain earlier this month.
Gibson, 27, then struck a pump at a petrol station in Greater Manchester on August 16, Trafford Magistrates’ Court heard.
The ex-Manchester United player pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol, driving without due care and failing to stop after a accident.
Witnesses told the court how the Everton midfielder had been driving “too fast”, before he mounted the pavement and collided with the men, leaving one with cuts to his legs, elbow and hand.
He was said to have then driven off at speed, following the crash near his home town of Bowdon, before the crash at the petrol station minutes later.
The court heard a concerned petrol attendant called police after Gibson got out of his car with no shoes on and filled his vehicle with fuel.
Arresting officers said they noticed an “obvious strong smell of alcohol” on his breath.
Gibson was taken to a police station where he gave a positive reading of 57mg per 100ml of breath – the legal limit is 35.
Subhanar Chowdhury, prosecuting, said the defendant fully acknowledged in interview what he had done.
Chair of the bench Susanne O’Connell told the player the failure-to-stop offence was “serious enough” to merit a community penalty.
She banned Gibson from driving for 20 months and ordered him to pay compensation of £4,500 for the damaged bicycle and £1,000 to the injured biker Philip Quinn – plus £100 each to the other two cyclists.
He was also sentenced to a 12-month community order, with an unpaid work requirement of 200 hours.
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