Wayne Rooney has issued a public apology to his family after being found guilty of drink driving.

The former England captain said sorry for an “unforgivable lack of judgement” after he was sentenced for being nearly three times the drink drive limit on a night out while his pregnant wife Coleen and their three sons were on holiday.

He has been banned from driving for two years and ordered to carry out unpaid community work.

Rooney was stopped by police when driving a black Volkswagen Beetle belonging to Laura Simpson in Wilmslow, Cheshire, at 2am on September 1. He was three times over the drink drive limit.

The incident has sparked widespread speculation over the health of his marriage.

He has been married to his high-school sweetheart Coleen since 2008 and they have three children together.

Mrs Rooney recently announced she is pregnant with their fourth child.

Rooney, 31, had asked the judge to consider not imposing a community order because of his ongoing charitable work.

However the judge said he was “not convinced” that imposing a large fine “would have the same effect”.

The Everton striker said in a statement: “Following today’s court hearing I want publicly to apologise for my unforgivable lack of judgment in driving while over the legal limit. It was completely wrong.

“I have already said sorry to my family, my manager and chairman and everyone at Everton FC.

“Now I want to apologise to all the fans and everyone else who has followed and supported me throughout my career.

“Of course I accept the sentence of the court and hope that I can make some amends through my community service.”

Rooney initially made no comment as he was confronted by a media scrum outside Stockport Magistrates’ Court on Monday morning.

Wearing a blue suit with his hands in his pockets, he walked into the court building accompanied by a small entourage, although pregnant wife Coleen was nowhere to be seen.

He was charged after being stopped while driving a black Volkswagen Beetle belong to Laura Simpson in Wilmslow, Cheshire, at 2am on September 1.

Rooney was given a warm welcome at Old Trafford on his return to former club Manchester United on Sunday but it ended in disappointment with a 4-0 defeat for his boyhood club Everton, which he rejoined during the summer break.