Saunders In Glass Houses Shouldn't Throw Stones

There are few, if any, present day TV ex-football pundits that have been more acerbic with their comments about a football club, it's players, owners and supporters than Dean Saunders has been about West Ham United. In his BT Sport TV's capacity as match day pundit and in a similar role for Talk Sport radio, the ex Wales International footballer has relentlessly and arrogantly criticised the Irons.

So it was with a certain amount of schadenfreude that news of Saunders' arrogance 'biting him back was greeted at the Org, apart from getting pissed behind the wheel, something many readers may have done 'back in the day', Saunders then had the front to deny the police either a breath test or a blood or urine sample when asked to do so.

We often criticise young players who don't act responsibly, but Saunders tried to use his 'fame' in order to wriggle out of being prosecuted. He should also remember the comments he made about the late and great Ray Wilkins, people in glass houses really shouldn't throw stones! - Ed

Here is a copy of the BBC article:
The BT Sport pundit, 55, was stopped by police on suspicion of drink-driving in Boughton, Chester, on 10 May. Saunders, who was capped by Wales 75 times, was slurring and had to prop himself up against his Audi A8 car when he was asked to get out of the vehicle, Chester Magistrates' Court heard. Jailing Saunders, District Judge Nicholas Sanders called him "arrogant".

Outside court, Conor Johnstone, defending Saunders, said his client would be appealing against the sentence as he believed it was excessive. He said his client was "in shock" and "disappointed" with the sentence. A bail application is expected to be made to a judge at Chester Crown Court later on Wednesday so Saunders does not have to spend time in custody before any future appeal hearings, Mr Johnstone added. The former Derby County, Oxford United and Aston Villa forward, of The Paddocks in Whitegate, Cheshire, told the court he had been at Chester Races and had drunk two pints.

'Deterrent sentence'

The court heard how at about 00:45 BST, a police patrol spotted Saunders' car driving at speed and failing to give way at a roundabout, causing another vehicle to brake. He was arrested for failing to provide a breath test and taken to a police station when he again refused to comply. His lawyer suggested the alcohol might have "interacted" with the medication he takes for injury to his knees and for his asthma. The father of three looked crestfallen when he realised he was going to jail.

"Throughout these proceedings you have shown yourself to be arrogant, thinking you are someone whose previous and current role in the public eye entitles you to be above the law," District Judge Sanders said. "In fact the opposite is true - someone in the public eye should expect a deterrent sentence when they flout the law."

Saunders had initially denied failing to comply with a roadside breath test and failing to provide a sample at a police station, but later pleaded guilty.
He was also banned from driving for 30 months and ordered to pay court costs of £620