Dundee FC captain Charlie Adam has been fined and banned from the roads for a year after admitting drink-driving.
The footballer was found by police in his Audi at around 4.30am.
Officers were called to an accident on the A930 Dundee West Road and found the 36-year-old behind the wheel of his car.
The vehicle had sustained damage to its near-side front tyre.
Dundee Sheriff Court heard Adam had been at a gathering hosted by a family friend on December 13.
He provided a road side breath test and was found to have 43 microgrammes per 100ml of alcohol in his system – nearly double the limit of 22 mics.
Found in driver’s seat
Depute fiscal Rachel Hill told the court: “The accused was observed in the driver’s seat, sitting on his mobile phone and damage was observed to the tyre.
“The accused told police a tyre had blown out.
“Further constables were called to assist and the accused was requested to provide a specimen of breath, to which he complied.
“The accused was cautioned and charged, to which he made no reply.”
In mitigation, defence solicitor Steven Fletcher explained because of the driving ban expected, Adam would be effectively separated from his family in Glasgow while he captained Dundee this season.
He told the court ex-Rangers and Scotland star Adam had two sources of income – his Dark Blues wages and additional money from BBC punditry, which had all but “dried up”.
Mr Fletcher said Adam did not want to disclose his Dens Park salary for commercial reasons, before revealing the former Liverpool midfielder’s earnings of £3,500 per week.
Thought he was fit to drive
Mr Fletcher added: “Mr Adam had gone to Broughty Ferry for dinner and bumped into an old family friend.
“He was invited back to their house for an impromptu drink.
“It is a difficult time of year for Mr Adam.
“It is the anniversary of his mother’s death and is the time of year his father had died.”
Adam had left the friend’s house at 4am and his solicitor told the court he thought it would be safe to drive.
“He was clearly mistaken”, said Mr Fletcher.
He added: “He accepts responsibility…this will affect his family life”.
Sheriff Paul Brown disqualified Adam from driving for 12 months and imposed a £2,000 fine, reduced from £3,000 because of his early plea.
