Ex- Chelsea and England football star Ray Wilkins failed to appear at Uxbridge Magistrates' Court on Monday (July 18) to face a drink-drive charge in court after checking himself into rehab.
Wilkins, 59, a Chelsea and Manchester United star, is seeking help to quit alcohol after he was allegedly caught behind the wheel while almost three times over the legal alcohol limit .
The court heard former QPR and Fulham manager allegedly was pulled over by another driver because he was weaving along the road in his Mercedes SL400 on his way back from a charity golf event in Chiswick .
The motorist took the keys out of Wilkins' hand after they both stopped on the Northern Perimeter Road near Heathrow on Friday, July 1, before police arrived and arrested Wilkins.
'He admits the prosecution's case'
Defending Wilkins, Sarah-Kate McIntyre said he was unable to attend the hearing on the advice of a psychologist at The Priory in Woking, Surrey.
She said: “Mr Wilkins has indicated to me he admits the prosecution’s case in the full facts. If he could enter a guilty plea through me he would, but I can only make that indication that he will.
“He is currently undergoing a 28-day residential rehabilitation programme at the Priory Hospital in Woking.
“I have an email from his clinical psychologist that says he is concerned about Mr Wilkins attending court whilst undergoing this treatment for fear he would suffer a relapse.
“He shows high levels of motivation and his doctor urges that he continues with that treatment.”
Ms McIntyre requested the case be delayed for six weeks but was rejected.
Prosecution barrister Janine Brown said: “He voluntarily went for treatment and could come to court for a few hours to get the process going. He knew that date and time of this hearing.”
A night in the cells
Wilkins, of Cobham in Surrey, spent a night in the cells after being arrested but then appeared on talkSPORT radio the following day to rant about England’s defeat to Iceland at the Euros.
Wilkins, now a football pundit, played a various clubs including AC Milan and Queens Park Rangers , as well as working as a Fulham manager and later a Chelsea coach.
He was awarded an MBE in 1993 or service to football.
Wilkin is set to appear at Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court on July 25.
