Zara Phillip's boyfriend ban

10 months ago 09th Jan 14:00

Britain's Zara Phillips' boyfriend was banned from driving yesterday (09.01.09).

England rugby player Mike Tindall was ordered not to take control of a vehicle for three years after being caught drink driving last March.

Mike's lawyers said the sportsman had been shocked and embarrassed

Mike, 30, was stopped in his Range Rover Sport after he was seen driving erratically at speeds of over 110km/h at 10.45am.

He was found to be over the legal limit, having consumed seven glasses of champagne, a vodka and Red Bull, two pints of lager and two bottles of beer at Cheltenham races - which he had attended with Zara, Queen Elizabeth's granddaughter - the previous day.

In a statement issued at the time, Mike said: "I have learned that what you perceive to be a safe time to wait before one drives after drinking, particularly the following morning, can be totally wrong. I apologise for my actions."

District Judge Davinder Lachhar said: "I would not have thought it would be surprising that he was over the limit having drunk so much."

Mike's lawyers said the sportsman had been "shocked and embarrassed" at recording a positive breath test.