BREAKING NEWSPaul Ince admits drink-driving as he is banned from roads for 12 months after crashing Range Rover into central reservation

Paul Ince has been banned from driving for 12 months and fined more than £7000 after pleading guilty to drink driving.

The 57-year-old former England captain was arrested after a black Range Rover smashed into a central reservation in Cheshire last month.

The crash happened near Heswall Golf Club – a location where Ince has previously posted pictures from on Instagram. 

He appeared at Chester Magistrates’ Court today and was ordered to pay £7,085 alongside the ban. 

District Judge Jack McGarva during sentencing told Ince: ‘The message has got to be if you’re going to drive you don’t drink at all.’ 

Arriving at court, he was pictured signing autographs and posing for selfies with fans. 

At the time of the incident a spokesperson for Cheshire Police said: ‘At around 5pm on Saturday 28 June, police were called following reports of a collision on Chester High Road, Neston.

‘The incident involved a black Range Rover which had collided with the central reservation barrier.

‘Officers attended the scene and arrested a 57-year-old man.’

Paul Ince takes a selfie with a fan as he arrives at Chester Magistrates’ Court charged with drink driving

Ince smiled for the cameras as he turned up at Chester Magistrates’ Court this morning

Paul Ince and Ian wright pose together in 1998 as part of the England football team 

Paul Ince gestures toward the crowd after his goal during the FA Carling Premiership match against Manchester United in 1999

Ince, a former Manchester United, Liverpool and West Ham star, was the first black man to captain England. 

He won 53 caps for his country and is perhaps best remembered for his starring role in a dogged goalless draw with Italy which sent Glenn Hoddle’s side to the 1998 World Cup.

Ince came through the ranks at the Hammers before a then big-money move to United in 1989. 

After spending six, trophy-laden years at Old Trafford, he was transferred to Inter Milan before returning to England to play for United’s rivals, Liverpool.

Further stints at Middlesbrough and Wolves followed before Ince brought the curtain down on a playing career which saw him win two Premier Leagues, two FA Cups and a League Cup, among other silverware.

After successful spells in charge of Macclesfield and MK Dons, he went on to manager clubs including Blackburn Rovers, Notts County and Blackpool.

His last role was as manager of Reading, a post he left in 2023.