Bakke guilty of drink-driving

The midfielder had denied the drink-drive charge

Leeds midfielder Eirik Bakke has been banned from driving for two years after being found guilty of drink-driving.

The Norwegian international was also fined £5,000 plus £1,000 costs at Wetherby Magistrates' Court for being twice over the legal drink-drive limit.

Bakke, 25, was arrested outside his home in Alwoodley, Leeds, on 14 January after police smelled alcohol on his breath as he stepped out of his BMW car.

Officers had called at the property after colleagues spotted his vehicle in the city and wanted to check it had not been stolen.

The footballer was not called to give evidence.

Police accused

Bakke's solicitor Nick Freeman accused police of "performing lip-service" to his legal rights.

Mr Freeman said police had failed to contact the Norwegian embassy "as soon as was practicable" and did not get hold of the Leeds United lawyers Bakke wanted to see.

But district judge Roy Anderson had earlier criticised the player for trying to delay a breath test procedure at a police station by telling officers he had a poor command of English.

Bakke had denied the drink-driving charge but admitted to not driving in accordance with a licence.

He was signed in 1999 from Norwegian club Sogndal by former Leeds manager David O'Leary for £1.5m.

In a statement after the case, Bakke said: "I have never denied drinking and driving, an action that I deeply regret, but I was not afforded my rights and entitlements at the police station and my case was argued on this basis.

"I am big enough and old enough to realise it was a huge mistake to drive after having a drink and one I never intend to repeat."