Bannan handed 18-month driving ban

Aston Villa midfielder Barry Bannan has been banned from driving for 18 months and handed a fine after admitting to four offences.

The 21-year-old was found guilty of driving with excessive alcohol, driving on a provisional licence, driving without due care and attention, as well as failing to stop at a road accident.

The latter of the charges occurred after the Scotland international crashed his Range Rover on the Southbound Carriageway of the M1 at approximately 5:30am on October 23.

Bannan was temporarily suspended by Villa after the incident in October, with manager Alex McLeish telling the midfielder that he must change his lifestyle if he is to remain in the Premier League.

Bannan has also been fined 4,500 pounds for the incident.

The Scot is not the first in the Premier League to pick up a ban for driving while under the influence of alcohol, with Blackburn Rovers boss Steve Kean handed an 18-month ban in August for drink-driving, although he claimed to have had his drink spiked.