Rangers footballer Dujon Sterling has been banned from driving for a year after crashing his car while almost three times over the drink driving limit.
The 26-year-old had been in the side that beat Celtic 3-1 at Parkhead on 3 January this year.
Sterling then got behind the wheel of his grey Mercedes AMG GLE 63 in the early hours of 4 January. He was seen driving erratically through Glasgow city centre before he crashed into a barrier near the M8.
At Glasgow Sheriff Court, the footballer was banned from driving for 12 months and fined £2,250.
The court heard how, Sterling, of the city’s Dowanhill area, was found to have been driving almost three times over the limit.
He was temporarily banned from driving after the incident and given a financial penalty by Rangers Football Club.
Sterling featured in a match away to Hearts on Monday night where he scored his side’s only goal in the 2-1 defeat.
Sterling pleaded guilty to careless driving having initially been charged with dangerous driving.
He also admitted a separate charge of drink driving.
The court heard that a witness observed his Mercedes colliding with the barrier and contacted the police.
Prosecutor Christa Lindsay said: “Officers observed the collision as described with the front bumper submerged into the crash barrier.
“Officers saw Sterling outside the vehicle on his mobile phone and they approached him.
“He said that he did not suffer any injuries. He said that he lost control, veered towards the barrier and crashed into it.”
Officers believed that Sterling appeared in a “dazed condition” which resulted in him being taken into a police station.
A breath test was carried out and it was found that he had 60mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath – the legal limit is 22mcg.
Sterling was put under arrest and held in custody until he was fit enough to leave.
CCTV inquiries showed Sterling initially driving around the Royal Exchange Square and Queen Street areas of the city centre at 01:13.
It was stated that he “narrowly missed a vehicle” that was turning in a lane.
Lindsay added: “Sterling’s vehicle swerved from the lane in an attempt to prevent a crash.”
Sterling was further seen driving in an “uncontrolled” and “erratic manner” changing lanes without indicating and came close to a moving vehicle.
He had to “brake heavily” to avoid colliding with a stationary car on Hope Street’s junction with Sauchiehall Street.
He was also seen to drive on the wrong side of the road at a “significant speed” before the collision, which was not caught on camera, at 01:30.
Lindsay said Sterling contacted the police and informed them that he was in a collision.
‘Very remorseful’
Road conditions were said to have been dark, but had street lighting, and was icy underfoot.
The charge states that Sterling drove at excessive speed for the road conditions which was determined by footage rather than a speedometer.
Ronnie Simpson, defending, told the court: “The entire incident lasted eight or nine minutes from the beginning of the footage until the collision which took place.
“At the time, he was celebrating the successful conclusion of his day at his place of work.
“He is under no illusion that he should not have been driving and had been punished by his employer which was a financial penalty as a result of this incident.”
He added: “He accepts he should not have been behind the wheel of the car that evening.
“My client is a first offender and is very remorseful for his actions. He is not someone who will be before the court again.”
Sterling was initially disqualified from driving between January and April this year but was allowed back on the road following a court hearing last month. Simpson said Sterling has not driven since the collision.
The sheriff also offered the footballer an opportunity to undertake a drink driving rehabilitation course which will reduce his ban when completed.
A Rangers spokesperson said: “Rangers notes today’s court judgment.
“As we have said previously, the club takes road safety matters seriously and is clear that standards of behaviour apply to everyone representing Rangers FC.
“The matter has been addressed internally, with appropriate action taken, and a contribution made to charity.”