Ex- Manchester United Darron Gibson escaped being sent to prison after he admitted a second drink-drive charge in less than three years instead he was banned from driving for 40 months and two year community order.
The 30-year-old smashed his Mercedes into parked cars on St Patrick’s Day following 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.
Darron Gibson admitted drink-driving 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.
Gibson, from Hale, Cheshire, was handed an interim disqualification and granted unconditional bail ahead of sentence, which is listed to take place at 2pm on Monday.
District Judge Roger Elsey did not jail him after hearing the ex-Sunderland player was going through a number of psychological issues at the time, for which he is now receiving treatment.