FORMER Wales international footballer Mark Aizlewood (pictured) was today banned from driving for 12 months for drinking and driving after the BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year awards.

Aizlewood, aged 41, of Treetops, Portskewett, was also fined £750 by Cardiff magistrates after admitting a charge of drinking and driving.

The court heard TV pundit Aizlewood - a former Wales international who used to play for Leeds United and Charlton FC as well as Newport County - was stopped at 2am in Cardiff city centre on January 8.

A reading showed 113 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood. The legal limit is 80.

But Hugh Powell, defending, said his Newport-born client was only reversing the car out of a tight spot for his wife, who had a bad neck.

He said: "My client had been out with his friends and family at a city centre function and he went to a local restaurant where he had three pints of lager.

"He had no intention of driving home that night because his wife was working and she was going to drive them home to Chepstow.

"The car was parked in the Hayes area and because Mr Aizlewood's wife suffered from a bad neck that night he reversed the car into a better position. He was reversing the car onto the main road where it could be driven."

Mr Powell told the court the area was not one used by other cars although he conceded that pedestrians could have been about.

He said: "There is no evidence that Mr Aizlewood drove without care or attention or without concern. He had three pints that night and had eaten food and although he had no plans to drive home he thought he was okay to move the car."

Magistrate Susan Williams heard that the circumstances of the case made it "exceptional".

She was told also Aizlewood supported two families, each with three children, and worked in the broadcasting industry and for the Welsh FA.

She asked how much he had earned last year and was told by Mr Powell that Aizlewood was "not obliged to reveal that information".

Banning him for 12 months Ms Williams added: "We have taken your guilty plea into consideration."

In addition to the fine and ban, Aizlewood must pay £50 costs. He refused to comment after the hearing.