A former footballer was branded a “walking disaster” when he appeared in court for being four times over the limit.

Michael Farrelly, of Farm Lane, Simister, was breath-tested after he had been seen swerving in the road and hitting a kerb, Manchester and Salford Magistrates’ Court heard.

The ex-footballer, who had played for Preston and Altrincham, was found to have full and empty bottles of wine in his car, prosecutor Nicola Ormerod said.

Farrelly, aged 52, admitted driving with excess alcohol and was fined £100 and disqualified for three years.

He was also given a 12-month community order with a rehabilitation programme and six month alcohol treatment, and told to pay costs of £295.

Passing sentence, chairwoman Mrs Hilary Clayton told him “You were a walking disaster.

“How you could still stand up I don’t know. You were not driving very well and could have killed somebody – it’s only good fortune that you didn’t.”

Miss Ormerod said Farrelly’s speech was slurred and his eyes glazed when stopped on Dorset Road, Levenshulme, on the evening of August 24.

The court heard that he had a history of alcohol abuse and was registered with AA.

“His life has been blighted by alcohol and he is ashamed and embarrassed about his latest lapse” said Nnamdi Inegbu, defending.