Ex-footballer Ray Wilkins to face court on drink-driving charge

Former England footballer Ray Wilkins is due in court on Monday to face a drink-driving charge.

The former Chelsea and Manchester United star, 59, had been due to attend face magistrates in Uxbridge, west London, a week ago after being arrested near Heathrow Airport on July 1.

But his lawyer told the court on July 18 the ex-midfielder was being treated for alcoholism.

Barrister Sarah-Kate McIntyre said he was on a 28-day residential rehabilitation course at the Priory Hospital in Woking, Surrey.

She argued that the case should be put back for several weeks to allow him to complete it.

However, chairman of the bench Nash Gill put the case back for a week and said Wilkins should come to court or provide significant medical reasons why he could not.

Wilkins was capped 84 times by the Three Lions, including at the 1986 Mexico World Cup.

He played abroad for AC Milan and Paris St Germain before going on to become a manager and coach for teams including Chelsea and Queens Park Rangers.

He was arrested on July 1 on Northern Perimeter Road and charged the following day, accused of being almost three times over the drink-drive limit.

Wilkins has two previous convictions for drink-driving from 2013.

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