England star Mike Tindall banned from driving for three years

MIKE TINDALL, the England rugby player boyfriend of Zara Phillips, was banned from the road for three years today for drink-driving.

The 30-year-old World Cup winning centre admitted being over the legal limit when he was stopped by police on the M4 near Newbury, Berkshire.

He was pulled over at 10.45 am on his way to Twickenham to mark England's Six Nations match with Ireland in March last year.

He admitted he had drunk seven glasses of champagne, as well as beer, vodka and Red Bull at Cheltenham races with his girlfriend the day before. Tests showed he had a level of 91mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood compared with the drink-drive limit of 80mg.

The star was convicted of drink-driving and banned for 16 months in 2000. Tindall, of Minchinhampton, Gloucestershire, was today also ordered to pay a £500 fine and £75 costs at Reading magistrates' court.

He smiled as he left court but refused to comment. Zara Phillips was not at the hearing. The court heard that at the time Tindall had a "reduced liver function" because of a serious injury when playing for England against Wales.

Victoria Griffiths, prosecuting, said police saw Tindall's Range Rover Sport as it appeared to be speeding near junction 12. Officers saw the vehicle being driven "erratically", touching the white lines on either side of the lane before swerving across all three lanes into Reading service station.

"The officers decided to speak to the driver and could smell alcohol on his breath. He confirmed he had drunk alcohol the day before but not that day," she said.

Tindall pleaded guilty before magistrates to driving over the legal limit last July.

Defending, Marcus Milliken-Smith said Tindall's damaged liver and its ability to process alcohol should be taken into account.

He said the ban would cause Tindall considerable inconvenience as he travelled to matches all over the country. Tindall could not believe he was over the limit and was shocked and embarrassed.

He said: "He is extremely embarrassed to be before the court. It is a chastening experience to have several hearings before this court."

Sentencing, District Judge Davinder Lachhar said Tindall should not have been surprised to be over the limit after having "drunk so much" the day before.