St Johnstone star Francisco Sandaza spent a night in police cells after drunkenly driving the wrong way down a one-way street.
The wayward Spaniard appeared from custody in handcuffs at Perth Sheriff Court on Friday after being arrested for his boozy antics.
The 18-goal hitman was spotted by police after a night out in Perth city centre as he made his way in the wrong direction down South Street in the early hours.
Officers watched in disbelief as the 27-year-old, who lives in upmarket Kinfauns Holdings, pulled up in front of The Loft nightclub to let his girlfriend out.
As she entered the bar to collect her mobile phone, Sandaza was ordered to turn his vehicle around and, once the couple left the area, a patrol car followed and pulled them over.
Although he admitted quaffing three alcoholic drinks earlier that evening, when a breath test revealed he was twice the legal limit the indignant striker demanded officers let him ”have another blow”.
A night in the cells at divisional headquarters in Perth saw Sandaza change his mind, however, as he appeared in the dock with his head hung, still wearing his designer jeans and a short quilted jacket, to plead guilty to drink-driving.
Defence agent John McLaughlin told the court his footballer client was ”embarrassed and contrite”.
Sandaza, who already has 10 penalty points from three speeding offences, admitted that on April 27, on South Street and Scott Street, he drove with excess alcohol (71 mics). The legal limit is 35 mics in 100ml of breath.
The Saints player, who earns £4,000 per month, came under fire from Sheriff Raymond McMenamin, who slammed his decision to drive after his boozy night out.
”You may have been surprised to have learned of your alcohol reading, but with that amount of alcohol on your breath you should not have been behind the wheel of your car,” he said. ”You must realise that now having spent the night in custody.”
Sheriff McMenamin disqualified Sandaza from driving for 16 months and imposed a fine of £550.
The former Valencia striker has been a key factor in St Johnstone’s most successful season in recent years.
Since signing on at McDiarmid Park for a year in July he has scored 18 goals in all competitions this term. His capture after leaving Brighton was seen as one of the coups of the summer’s transfer dealings.
The striker, who had an injury-stricken two-year spell at Dundee United from 2008, has never been far from the headlines.
His red-hot form before Christmas saw St Johnstone place a £300,000 price tag on him as Rangers made a pre-contract offer, which he ultimately turned down.
At one point it was reported he had agreed terms with the struggling Ibrox club but he revealed he rejected them because they had undervalued him.
The month-long circus which surrounded the issue was slammed by St Johnstone manager Steve Lomas.
Sandaza’s 18-goal haul in just 33 appearances led to widespread speculation he would be in the running for end of season Scottish Player of the Year awards and Lomas admitted he was stunned when the nominations did not materialise.
And, in what could be his last appearance in a Saints shirt, Sandaza was sent off last Saturday against Dundee United for a petulant kick at an opponent.
He had to be hustled off the pitch by angry teammates and was blasted by his manager and colleagues after the game.
The red card brought a three-game ban, ruling Sandaza out for all but the last game of the season.
With the talented striker expected to move on after that, the St Johnstone fans may have seen the last of their idol.
A spokesman for the club said of the drink-driving incident: ”We are aware of what happened and we are making no comment at the moment.”