PA PhotosPlunkett, 27, was stopped in the early hours of July 28 after he had driven to an overnight garage on the A690 in Durham to buy food following a drinking session.
He gave a reading of 74mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath, more than twice the legal limit of 35mg. He had been banned from driving for a similar offence in 2007.
Plunkett admitted the charge, with his defence lawyer saying the player’s financial circumstances led to the “illogical” behaviour - he is suffering from a long-term Achilles injury and has not played for England since February 2011.
He was nonetheless banned for 40 months, fined £1000 and ordered to pay £100 costs.
