Former Manchester United, Everton and Sunderland footballer Darron Gibson has avoided a prison sentence for a serious drink-driving offence on the grounds of "significant psychological issues".
South Tyneside Magistrates Court heard that Gibson, 30, has lost hundreds of thousands of pounds in lost bonuses after Sunderland terminated his contract in March.
He smashed his Mercedes 4x4 into a taxi and five parked cars on St Patrick's Day, March 17, as he drove from his flat in Durham to a physio session at the club, finally smashing into a garden wall.
Gibson wept during the hearing where it was said he had used sleeping tablets and drunk from a litre bottle of vodka the night before.