Swann ‘drove to get screwdriver for rescuing cat after drinking for five hours’

LONDON - England off-spinner Graeme Swann had been drinking for nearly five hours before he was pulled over for drink-driving, the Nottingham Magistrates Court was told.

The Nottinghamshire Police had charged Swann with drink-driving after being stopped in the West Bridgford area of Nottingham on April 2.

Hodgkinson, a nurse who took Swann’s blood sample that night for testing, told magistrates that the cricketer had told her how much he had drunk.

“Swann stated he drank approximately five glasses of white wine which were home measures,” The Independent quoted the nurse, as saying.

“[He] stated he started drinking at approximately eight in the evening and finished drinking about half-twelve or one in the morning,” she added.

Earlier, Swann had told the court that he was arrested for drink driving while on a mission to rescue his trapped cat.

The 31-year-old recalled the incident of how he arrived at his home in West Bridgford, Nottingham, with his wife Sarah on April 2 to find their pet stuck under floorboards.

“I’m sorry. I know I should not be driving, but I only went to Asda to get some screwdrivers to get the cat out,” Swann had said.

Swann was given a roadside breath test, which gave a reading of 46 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

A second test at the police station gave a reading of 45, and a blood sample showed 83 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood - just three milligrams above the limit.

The case continues. (ANI)