A FORMER Warriors player drunk drove on the motorway and hit a barrier after a night out drinking following the team's last-ever game.
William Couch appeared at Worcester Magistrates Court on Thursday, (October 27), admitting an offence of driving a motor vehicle when his alcohol level was above the limit.
Owen Beale, prosecuting, said the 18-year-old was caught by police drink driving a black Volkswagon Polo on the M5 on the morning of September 25 this year.
Mr Beale said Couch was taken to Worcester Police Station, where the evidential sample recorded was 46mcg in 100ml of breath - the legal limit being 35mcg.
The prosecutor added the offence had been aggravated by Couch having a crash, having gone into a barrier.
Mark Turnbull, defending, said Couch had been a Worcester Warrior's academy player whose future had been thrown into doubt when the club was put into administration in September.
Worcester Warriors won their final match at Sixways Stadium against Newcastle on September 24, and Mr Turnbull said the whole team went out drinking in the city that night - Couch joining them before going to a friend's house to stay over.
"He woke up at 4.45am, he was on the sofa," Mr Turnbull said.
"He had a few hours' sleep.
"He thinks he is OK to drive home. He goes on the motorway, he hits a barrier.
"It was a miscalculation by a young man who thought he was OK to drive but he wasn't."
Mr Turnbull asked magistrates to bear in mind "the turmoil" Couch was suffering at the time of the mistake, adding: "It's hard enough for a man trying to become professional."
He added that the prop has secured work at a club in Wales.
After deliberations, chairman of the magistrates bench Michelle Edwards, said: "The incident was aggravated because there was an accident, but no one else was involved."
Couch, of Station Road, Balsall Common, Coventry, was banned from driving for 12 months.
He was fined £230, and ordered to pay costs of £135 and victim surcharge of £92.
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Couch offered to pay the total, £457, in full within 28 days.
The chairman added: "If you drive whilst disqualified you will be committing another offence, arrested, and could be sent to prison."
Worcester went into administration after it was revealed the club’s debts totalled more than £25million, including at least £6m in unpaid tax.
The club was suspended from all competitions including the Premiership.
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