Bannan gets driving ban, fine after motorway crash

Aston Villa midfielder Barry Bannan has been banned from driving for 18 months for committing a series of motoring offenses while he was almost twice over the legal alcohol limit.

The 21-year-old Scotland international admitted charges of drunk driving, failing to stop after a road accident, driving without due care and attention and driving on a provisional license when he appeared at a magistrates' court in Nottingham, central England, on Friday.

Bannan, who was also fined 4,500 pounds ($7,000), was charged by police after crashing his car on a motorway on Oct. 23.

Enjoying a breakthrough season with his Premier League team, Bannan has played in nine of Villa's 12 matches.