Dean Windass tells court of disgust and shame at his drink-driving
HULL City legend Dean Windass told a court he was "disgusted and ashamed" for his actions as he pleaded guilty to drink-driving.
Windass has been banned from driving after falling asleep at the wheel while more than three times the drink-driving limit.
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GUILTY PLEA: Dean Windass leaves Bradford Magistrates' Court.
He crashed his silver Mercedes into a parked car in Bradford as he drove home drunk after watching City's defeat to Blackpool.
Bradford Magistrates' Court heard police found Windass asleep at the wheel of his car at 5am on October 3 and arrested him.
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He told officers he had drunk four alcoholic drinks after the game but became lost in Bradford's Baildon area as he was driving from Hull to his home on the outskirts of Leeds.
Prosecutor Anzal Hussain said: "He is a man of previously good character. However, he was reckless on this day."
The court heard Windass told police he had consumed two large glasses of wine and two pints of lager in Hull but had fallen asleep before crashing into the parked car.
Windass, 43, has been banned from driving for two years and four months.
His solicitor Maria Temkow said: "This is not an incident he takes lightly. He has lost his good name and self-respect. It is well-known he has had personal problems with depression.
"He played professional football until three years ago and, like many professional athletes, he is finding it difficult to change from being the centre of attention to now having to get his kit on for going to work.
"It has been hard to change his lifestyle."
She handed the court a copy of Windass's interview with the Mail where he talked about his drink-drive shame and his struggle with depression.
Mrs Temkow said: "He needs to take more help than he has been taking. He is a gentleman who has put his hands up and bitterly regrets getting in the car that evening."
The court heard Windass has started a job with a Hull hardware company, which has agreed to provide a driver for him, allowing him to keep his job.
The magistrates described his conduct as "very serious" and ordered him to carry out 250 hours' unpaid community work.
He was ordered to pay £85 court costs and an £80 victims' surcharge.
Earlier, Windass told the Mail: "I am gutted and so disappointed with myself as I am the first person to have a go at people who drink and drive.
"Now I have been caught, and I am a hypocrite. I have let my kids down again, and I have let everybody down."
Comments
by TheEnigma
Sunday, October 21 2012, 5:00AM
“'Early Doors'. Make mine a large Red.”
by Woodhey
Wednesday, October 17 2012, 8:02PM
“Amber_Man....
Judging by the one or two occasions I have seen the bloke out and about obviously having a good time, I reckon it is the hangers on and leeches that were with him that have helped him go through that much coin.
How he spends his money is his concern not mine, but I sincerely hope that those who were only too keen to be around him in the good times, are with him now to help him now that things are not so good.”
by d108tearn
Wednesday, October 17 2012, 7:34PM
“drink driving in my opinion is like carrying a loaded gun without the safety catch on, the fact that he has escaped prison brings into question the consistency of sentencing in the hull courts. Are local celebs too good for jail?”
by francis31
Tuesday, October 16 2012, 2:06PM
“come on deano settle down now mate and do the basics!!”
by delzzup
Tuesday, October 16 2012, 1:10PM
“Another footballer bigger then his boots ! quote "Now I have been caught, and I am a hypocrite. I have let my kids down again, and I have let everybody down."
how many other times has he got away with it ? what a waster !”
by Amber_Man
Tuesday, October 16 2012, 10:31AM
“He must have made enough £ to retire comfortably. Why is he selling nuts and bolts? I reckon throughout his career his earnings must have averaged 20k a week. how do you p155 that much up the wall?”
by dontwo
Tuesday, October 16 2012, 10:23AM
“Thought that interview seemed a bit odd. Its not everyday the HDM give so much column space and allow a drunk driver to bare his soul is it?. The drunk driver even claimed he "didnt want special treatment" as he whined on about why he was caught 3 times over the legal limit. It was so convincing his solicitor even handed the magistrates a copy just in case they hadnt read it in the paper.
These selfish people who get so drunk, think f.... it and drive their car usually kill some innocent person. Its just pure luck this reckless hypocritical man didnt, so anyone with any sympathy for this type of guy is a fool.”
by Thedark1
Tuesday, October 16 2012, 8:49AM
“muppet”
by WhoMeNever
Tuesday, October 16 2012, 8:30AM
“Deano, please learn. You were/are a good sportsman, a good ambassador for sport and a good person, but you keep making reckless decisions and taking feckless chances. It's time to stop this childish behaviour and be the person you want to be.
Good luck for the future.”