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Paul Gascoigne leaves Newcastle Magistrates' Court after avoiding jail despite being caught driving while more than four times the legal alcohol limit. Owen Humphreys/PA Wire/Press Association Images
Suspended sentence

Paul Gascoigne avoids jail for drink driving

Former England midfielder handed a suspended sentence and banned from driving for three years.

FORMER ENGLAND FOOTBALLER Paul Gascoigne has been given a suspended prison sentence for driving while more than four times over the legal limit.

The ex-Spurs and Lazio midfielder was told by magistrates in his hometown of Newcastle upon Tyne that the eight-week sentence would be suspended for one year.

The 43-year-old was also banned from driving for three years and given an alcohol treatment order. He had been due to be sentenced last month but failed to appear because he had checked himself into a rehabilitation clinic in southern England.

Gascoigne had previously admitted drink-driving after he was found to have 142 micrograms of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The limit is 35 micrograms.

Gascoigne was caught driving an MG car erratically by police in Newcastle, on October 8 at 2.45pm.

District judge Stephen Earl had adjourned sentencing until today and warned Gascoigne’s solicitor the troubled former footballer must appear.

A separate drink-drive charge, which Gascoigne denies, will be heard next week at Northallerton magistrates court.