Newcastle United striker Nile Ranger will have to pay £3,400 in court costs, after he pleaded guilty yesterday to drunk-driving.
Nile Ranger – pleaded guilty – got reduced fine
The London-born player admitted to the drunk driving offense yesterday in court, after he had been stopped by police when he was driving his new Range Rover early one Sunday morning, when he should have been tucked up in bed and asleep.
At 4.45am on Sunday morning, September 11th, police stopped Ranger on Collingwood Street in the Newcastle city center, and since he appeared to be intoxicated they gave him a breathalyzer test on the spot.
Ranger was then arrested on suspicion of drunk driving, and after being taken to the City police station, he was given a a more formal blood test, which revealed that his blood alcohol level was just over the legal limit.
Nile had 94 milligrams of alcohol in 100 milliliters of blood, and the legal limit is 80 – tough.
Geoffrey Forrester represented Ranger, and he had this to say in court yesterday:
“It is unfortunate he is just the wrong side of the legal limit,”
“If he had been more aware of the effects of alcohol he would not have been anywhere near that,”
Mr Forrester asked for Ranger to be put on a drink-driving awareness course as part of his punishment, and also asked for leniency because of his early guilty plea.
The Chairman of the Bench Keith McIntosh had this to say to Ranger:
“It does not matter if you are on a high or low salary,” “When someone has a drink they are not aware how much they have drunk in regards to the law.”
“You are over the limit, it is as simple as that, the best advice we can give is do not drink if you are going to drive.”
Ranger was offered the drink driving awareness course which he will take, and the fine has reduced from an initial £4,950 to £3,300 for his early guilty plea.
Ranger has also been disqualified from driving for 12 months, but if he successfully completes the drink-driving awareness course, that period will be reduced to nine months.
Nile may not have a future at Newcastle and it is likely he will leave the club in January, either on loan, or on a permanent deal, with Birmingham City said to be a suitor.
It’s always sad to see a youngster not using the immense talent he has been blessed with.
And while we hope Nile Ranger comes to his senses and quickly, he seems to be way off course right now, if he is to have a successful career in football.
You can lead a horse to water but you cannot make him drink.
28 comments so far
AMEOBI
Nov 11, 2011 at 10:24 AM
Comment #1Would like to keep him but he’s a mug!
Give him massive fine!
TS -77
Nov 11, 2011 at 10:28 AM
Comment #2Ed Harrison is on a hot streak today! Not finnished reading the articles or comment on them before a new post is out. Good job as usual Ed.
listie
Nov 11, 2011 at 10:44 AM
Comment #3Loan him out would be my preferred option, he’s one of those players who if he sorts himself out would be amazing, its a big if though!
spitfire_
Nov 11, 2011 at 10:45 AM
Comment #4He never change… give him the sack ffs… or swap him for Ridgewell.
TS -77
Nov 11, 2011 at 10:45 AM
Comment #5Agree, loan him to Birmingham..
AMEOBI
Nov 11, 2011 at 10:59 AM
Comment #6Send him to Ian holloway at Blackpool, he’s such a good manager that will take no shlt from anyone, could do him good
joppadoni
Nov 11, 2011 at 11:05 AM
Comment #794mg … thats a large glass and a half of zinfandel…
ffs. for me this isnt even a charge. pissed behind the wheel is one thing this something else entirely. the way the media made it our was he was rat arsed almost. if he has been out on a weekend with this little amount of alcohol in his system tells me something about how he keeps himself in decent shape.. flame me if you like but im happy with this outcome. he has a troubled passed and he needs support not disguardation ( btw i won a google award for bringing up only one link when i googled that word.. YEY ME ). i hope he stays. i hope he gets support and i hope he bangs 400 goals in for us over a career spent entirely at newcastle. go ranger 🙂
well. back in the real world i just hope he does the right things and realises his ambition to be a top footballer. GL ranger.
joppadoni
Nov 11, 2011 at 11:06 AM
Comment #8passed?.. past O_o
hitman
Nov 11, 2011 at 11:11 AM
Comment #9this lad is living the dream of every geordie/newcastle fan,but seems intent on fkin it up..
the mind boggles..
joppadoni
Nov 11, 2011 at 11:14 AM
Comment #10true hitman, but he is just human… :S
markmac
Nov 11, 2011 at 11:16 AM
Comment #11Does need to grow up and fast if hes to have a chance!
Toon Tang
Nov 11, 2011 at 11:19 AM
Comment #12joppadoni (7)
my sentiments exactly. media blow everything up like. they need to
joppadoni
Nov 11, 2011 at 11:30 AM
Comment #13on a different topic, anyone watched fringe? just started and it looks mental ( in a good way ofc )
Rotonda heights
Nov 11, 2011 at 11:33 AM
Comment #14less of the ridgewell talk please
roshan MAGPIE
Nov 11, 2011 at 11:35 AM
Comment #15now they have changed the name of the stadium for some bucks then they are going to change the name of the club for some more bucks then will it be SPORTS DIRECT UNITED
joppadoni
Nov 11, 2011 at 11:39 AM
Comment #16roshan please! im gunna vomit O_o
Q_Q
davybtoon
Nov 11, 2011 at 11:48 AM
Comment #17Thoughts on O2 being favourites to get the stadium n shirt rights
Tiote
Nov 11, 2011 at 11:55 AM
Comment #18F**k nil ranger he’s a waste of space. Sammys are new prospect. Had his change n blow it. Dnt 4 get this isn’t the first club hes been 2 and messed up big time. Al we hear ov him nw is bad press. We got rid of joey 4 a similar reason n at least he made the effort. Wot has ranger done? Correct me if am wrong but sure he hasn’t even scored a league goal 4 us. How many apprerances did he get last season as a sub. Sure he was the most used sub in th league last season. Rant over
TS -77
Nov 11, 2011 at 11:56 AM
Comment #19Well it could be worse.
Like Mike Ashley Stadium or Ashley Arena..
DanToon
Nov 11, 2011 at 11:59 AM
Comment #20Any truth on The o2 Arena? That would be a massive company to get on the shirts and stadium. I for one would be happy with that. Only doubt i have is the Millennium Dome is called The o2 Arena, would get confusing!!
joppadoni
Nov 11, 2011 at 12:09 PM
Comment #21id not expect O2 to sponsor at all. if its a telecom company id expect orange..
tiote mate. sammy was brought up in a decent financial and stable christian environment, whilst rangers upbringing was more related to gang culture and thuggery. dont judge him and decide who he is when theres more to it bud. he needs support not judgement and dismissal
giimps
Nov 11, 2011 at 12:17 PM
Comment #22Joppadoni, I agree, he has no parents and no siblings to guide him, he was brought here to play football, his progress has been halted by the fact we were way short in numbers last year and he was thrown in as a bit part player rather than sent on loan to learn his trade.
admittedly he seems to attract trouble but, he has no-one to turn to, he has surrounded himself with hangers on because he is insecure(imho) and would benefit massively from going to uncle chris at Brum.
joppadoni
Nov 11, 2011 at 12:22 PM
Comment #23@ giimps…lmfao!! uncle chris.. i love that expression haha classic 😀
and your right he would benefit from the arm around approach
Jail for Ashley
Nov 11, 2011 at 12:34 PM
Comment #24Pretty stupid thing to do for a lad in his position,even a pint and half,I think that shows how stupid he is plenty o taxis about at the time in the morning,and as for his scoring record…
technonasty
Nov 11, 2011 at 12:52 PM
Comment #25the quotes come from ranger’s defence barrister. for a young healthy sports man to be over the legal limit, although everyone is different and there are a lot of factors such as food eaten and rest levels, he would have had to have consumed much more than one drink. Although the govt advertise that just one drink impairs driving to exceed the limit you are looking at closer to 3 to 5 pints depending on your make up. I for one had high hopes for ranger but I am also a firm believer in discipline around the club. If he can be got rid of do so. I’d far rather have some of the young lads in our development squad seeing that as an example what not to do, and an opportunity to work hard and take his place.
Tiote
Nov 11, 2011 at 12:53 PM
Comment #26Joppadoni
Didn’t kno he had a tuff upbringing. I can half understand wot ur saying but every1s had it tuff at 1 point or another some more than others. A kno ppl who hav no1 2 turn 2 wen th goin gets tuff but they arnt in n out ov trouble. A dnt think we shud b excusing wot he’s done. No1s got it as easy as a footballer in my opinion. Try havin 2 turn 2 crime 2 make ends meat pay rent bring a child up and tryin 2 keep a job at th same time.
Ben_W
Nov 11, 2011 at 1:08 PM
Comment #27I agree with joppadoni. People made out like he went out, had 10 pints, and drove around smashed, whereas in reality, he was only just over, and was probably not even tipsy!
Random, but on FM2012 in summer of 2012 I was offered Adebayor whilst playing as newcastle, couldn’t afford his wages, and after a quick chat with Mike Ashley, he went and sorted it out that day himself! So who knows, maybe in summer ashley will splash out and sign him! Unlikely though 😛
bullsear
Nov 12, 2011 at 10:46 AM
Comment #28This poor kid is just too stupid for his own good. He constantly puts himself into bad situations. Here’s to hoping he gets his life together.