Curfew breaching ex-player jailed

The judge called Charles "a silly young man who ought to grow up"

A former England defender has been jailed for five months after breaking the terms of a curfew order.

Gary Charles, 34, of Stretton, near Alfreton was spared jail after saying he was ready to tackle alcoholism.

In May he was given a two-year community rehabilitation order and a three-month curfew after attacking a woman in his car.

But on Monday, Derby Crown Court heard Charles ripped off his electronic tag and went on holiday in Spain.

Dangerous driving

Jailing him, Judge Andrew Hamilton told him he was "a silly young man who ought to grow up" and had "no future in the bottle".

In May 2003 Charles parked his car across a busy slip-road of the A448 in Redditch, Worcestershire.

In September he was seen driving his Mercedes convertible into a garden wall after leaving a pub in Long Eaton.

In January 2004 Charles admitted dangerous driving, failing to provide a specimen and failing to stop and was jailed for four months by Derby magistrates.

Spanish holiday

In May he admitted assaulting a woman but escaped a prison sentence by convincing a judge he was addressing his problems.

But Derby Crown Court heard Charles first missed appointments with his probation officer, then ripped off his electronic tag so he could jet off on holiday.

Re-sentencing him, the judge said the former star had wasted his opportunity and was "an utter nuisance to everybody".

Charles, whose career ended in 2002 due to injury, played for Nottingham Forest, Aston Villa, Derby County, Benfica and West Ham.