Dumped Jermaine Pennant admits drink-driving charge after leaving Manchester nightclub following row with girlfriend

By Dean Wilkins

Jermaine Pennant is admitting to drink-driving after being dumped by his girlfriend in a Manchester nightclub.

The Stoke City winger was more than twice the legal limit when he drove home on April 29 and pleaded guilty to drink-driving, driving while disqualified and driving without insurance.

Pennant was arrested after he crashed his BMW in Sale and Trafford Magistrates’ Court heard how he was ‘depressed and stressed’ after months of private turmoil.

On the night of the incident the 29-year-old’s girlfriend text him telling him their relationship was over after his former partner failed to visit him with their 20-month-old child.

Pennant took refuse in a Manchester nightclub with friends but while he was there he became distressed about his ex-girlfriend and left.

The star was unable to secure accommodation in a central hotel room and decided to drive home but crashed in Sale at 5.30am.

The court heard how he may have been speeding through a red light, Pennant was not prosecuted for the collision.

When breathalysed he gave a reading of 89mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35mcg.

The footballer had been banned from driving earlier in April for having too many points on his licence and is due to be sentenced later.

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