Ex-Sunderland midfielder Darron Gibson gets licence back early after appeal over drink-driving sentence

Gibson, 33, appealed to magistrates in South Tyneside to have his disqualification removed 13 months ahead of schedule – and they agreed.

He was banned in May 2018 after crashing his Mercedes 4x4 into parked cars while three times the limit.

The smash, in Dovedale Road, Fulwell, Sunderland, happened on March 17 of the same year – St Patrick’s Day.

Minutes earlier, the ex-Republic of Ireland player, who now plays for League Two side Salford City, had knocked a wing mirror off a taxi in West Boldon.

During sentencing at the same court, he admitted taking sleeping tablets and drinking from a litre bottle of vodka the night before the crash.

The midfielder was not due to get back behind the wheel until November 20 next year.

He appealed to get his licence back under Section 42 of the Road Traffic Offenders’ Act 1988.

It allows motorists who have completed two years of a ban of under four years, to make representation to a court for licence return.

They can be successful if they can show they have committed no further offences and have been of good character.

The court also heard Gibson was being unduly exposed to the risk of contracting coronavirus, due to having to take taxis to and from training.

Neither Northumbria Police nor the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) objected to his application.

Uzma Khan, representing the CPS, said: “The crown and the police have been spoken to fully on our view of the application and neither have any objection.”

Magistrates acceded to Gibson’s request and said they “admired” him for the steps he had taken to address psychological issues identified at the time of his disqualification.

But Gibson was warned not to drive until he had reapplied for his licence and had it physically in his possession.

At his original sentencing hearing, Gibson, now of Hale Road, in Hale, Greater Manchester, denied being an alcoholic.

But he did confirm he was a binge drinker who was taking steps to overcome the problem.

Gibson was also given a two-year community sentence with 250 hours of unpaid work.

He was ordered to do 30 days of rehabilitation activity, pay £800 compensation to the taxi driver, and pay £85 court costs and an £85 victim surcharge.

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