This is the disturbing moment a former Premiere League striker ploughed his car through a shop causing £5,000 worth of damage.
Danny Graham, who started his football career with Middlesbrough FC, was nearly three times the legal limit when he smashed through the glass doors of the Co-op Village Store on the Teesside estate, in Wynyard.
CCTV footage shows his black Land Rover knocking over several shelves with wine and food.
Glass and debris can be seen scattered across the store where moments earlier a customer had been standing with their dog.
Teesside Magistrates’ Court heard the 37-year-old ‘can’t remember’ why he drove his car after drinking ‘up to 10 pints’.
Graham, who has also played for Sunderland, Blackburn and Swansea, said he had been playing golf before going to a friend’s house to enjoy some drinks.
The dad-of-three told a probation officer he had had ‘between five and 10 pints’, and had intended on getting a taxi home. But instead he got behind the wheel.
Prosecutor Mike Lawson said Graham was taken into the home of a witness to wait for the arrival of officers for his ‘protection’.
His blood was taken and was found to have no less than 230mg of alcohol in 100ml, while the legal limit is 80mg.
He spent the night in a prison cell following the crash and the court heard it is the first time he has been arrested.
Magistrates heard that luckily no one was injured in the crash, which happened on November 4, 2022.
But Mr Lawson said the store had to remain closed for five days, resulting in an estimated total loss of £32,000.
Choi Cheng, mitigating, said: ‘Graham is very apologetic. He is deeply remorseful for this offence.
‘He is a man of previous good character having never been to a court for anything in the past.’
Graham pleaded guilty to drink driving, and was given a 12-month community order, in which time he must complete 180 hours of unpaid work.
He will also be subject to a 90 day drinking ban, which will be monitored through a tag.
In addition, Graham had been banned from driving for 24 months – although will be allowed to complete the drink driver rehabilitation course, which will reduce the disqualification by three months.
