Premier League footballer Danny Graham admits being nearly triple the drink-drive limit when he rammed his Land Rover into a shop in £32,000 crash on exclusive estate
- Danny Graham was driving in the Wynyard estate when he crashed into the shop
- The ex-Sunderland star, 37, appeared at Teesside Magistrates’ Court today
A former Premier League striker mounted the pavement and smashed his 4×4 into a Co-op while three times over the drink-drive limit, a court has heard.
Ex-Sunderland star Danny Graham was cruising in his Land Rover through the exclusive Wynyard estate, in County Durham where he lives, when he crashed.
The 37-year-old mounted the kerb before ploughing through the shopfront, damaging £5,000 of stock and causing total losses of £32,000.
Graham, who also had stints at Middlesbrough, Watford, Swansea and Blackburn Rovers, today admitted drink-driving.
Teesside Magistrates’ Court heard the forward was breathalysed at hospital following the shocking crash on November 4, which forced the store to shut for five days.
Ex-Sunderland star Danny Graham was cruising in his Land Rover through the exclusive Wynyard estate. He caused a total of £32,000 of damage, with his Range Rover pictured wedged in the shopfront
Graham, who also had stints at Middlesbrough, Watford, Swansea and Blackburn Rovers, today admitted drink-driving. He is pictured in April 2013
Tests showed he had a reading of 230mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood. The legal limit is 80mg.
Prosecutor Michael Lawson said: ‘Luckily, no one was injured as a result of this collision.’
Mr Lawson said Graham mounted the pavement and the car went into the shop by accident.
Choi Cheng, defending, said: ‘Mr Graham is very apologetic and deeply remorseful for this offence.’
He said Graham had never been arrested before, was of previous good character and Mr Cheng handed over what he said was ‘a most impressive set of character references’ to magistrates.
Mr Cheng said: ‘Mr Graham, due to this unwise incident, experienced many things which he would never, ever, want to experience again.
‘The offence dates back to November and he has had this worry hanging over his head for five months.’
Veteran striker Graham started his playing career at Middlesbrough in 2004 where he scored one goal in 15 appearances for the club.
Graham, left, spent three years with Sunderland before leaving the team in 2018. He returned in 2020 before retiring a year later. He is pictured with Sunderland during his first spell with the club
After stints on loan at Leeds United, Darlington, Derby County and Blackpool, he signed with Carlisle in 2007.
The footballer spent two years there, netting 29 goals before moving to Watford.
Graham left the club for then-Premier League side Swansea in 2011 and made 54 appearances before his three-year stint at Sunderland.
He left the team in 2018 and spent four years with Blackburn Rovers, scoring 45 goals in 158 appearances.
Graham returned to Sunderland in 2020 before retiring a year later.
Magistrates will pass sentence later today once Graham has spoken to the Probation Service.
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