Aston Villa midfielder Barry Bannan was banned from driving for 18 months on Friday for committing a series of motoring offenses while he was almost twice over the legal alcohol limit.
The 21-year-old Scotland international admitted charges of drunk driving, failing to stop after a road accident, driving without due care and attention and driving on a provisional license when he appeared at a magistrates' court in Nottingham, central England.
Bannan, who was also fined 4,500 pounds ($7,000), was charged by police after crashing his car on a motorway on Oct. 23 as he drove home after a night out.
Fearing a motorway worker who attended the accident would phone the police, Bannan fled the scene before he was arrested in a taxi office, the court heard.
''It was foolish and I am sorry,'' said Bannan, who has played in nine of Villa's 12 Premier League matches in his breakthrough season with the Premier League side.
