Disgraced soccer star Adam Tanner's career has been thrown a lifeline after he escaped a jail term for drink-driving.

Ipswich Town footballer Tanner, 26, of Beeleigh Link, Chelmsford, was appearing in court for sentence after he admitted being three times the legal drink-drive limit, his second drink-driving offence in the last ten years.

But Chelmsford magistrates said they would not be sending him to prison. Instead he was ordered to do 80 hours of community service, placed on probation for 12 months and banned from driving for three years.

They also ordered him to take a safe driving course at yesterday's hearing.

John Flack, chairman of the bench, said: "Young people very much look up to footballers like you - you have a duty to set an example. You have shown maturity and an acceptance in facing your problems and you are to be congratulated."

Tanner has been given a free transfer by Division One high fliers Ipswich Town after he admitted the offence and another of failing to stop after an accident at an earlier hearing in January.

The court heard he had been dogged by serious knee injury since April last year and he had turned to drink when it disrupted his playing career.

The court heard Tanner's silver Mercedes was seen to hit a parked Vauxhall car in Newland Street, Witham, on November 18.

Tanner was later stopped by police and a blood test showed he had 245mgs of blood in 100mls of blood. The legal limit is 80.

At the time he was quoted by police as saying: "I know I have let myself down, my family and my employers and I am heartily ashamed."

Ernle Money, mitigating, said Tanner was very sorry for his actions and was doing all he could to tackle his problem.

Since the incident the court heard Tanner had spent a month at a rehab centre for his drink habit.

The court heard Tanner was a popular member of the team and had always worked hard for the local community. He is president of the Witham branch of the supporters' club.

After the hearing Horry Money, one of Tanner's solicitors, said: "Mr Tanner has instructed me to thank everybody who has been in court today. He is also very keen and very anxious to get his name back on the back pages rather than the front pages."

No jail sentence - Adam Tanner

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