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Ipswich player faces trial over drink-driving charge

An Ipswich Town player has been given a charge over drink-driving and now faces an unwanted trial appearance in March next year.

The Tractorboys striker is being accused of driving an Audi Q8 vehicle in Bury St Edmunds on the 30th of August, when over the limit.

That man is 30 year old James Norwood, of Cockfield near Bury St Edmunds, and it’s claimed he picked up a recording 58mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath – which is above the legal limit of 35mcg in 100ml of breath.

He pleaded not guilty to drink-driving during a hearing at Suffolk Magistrates’ Court. The player, who joined Ipswich from Tranmere in 2019, will face trial on the 16th of March.

Norwood has scored 12 goals in 41 games for the League One side since joining in the summer of 2019.

He helped Ipswich finish 11th in the League One table for the cut short 2019/20 season, something fans were disappointed with.

His previous clubs include Forest Green Rovers, where he scored 48 times in 161 appearances and another successful spell came at Tranmere Rovers, finding the net 82 times in 165 games.

An Ipswich Town spokesman said: “We are aware of James’ situation.

“A charge of drink-driving is clearly a serious matter but the club will not be commenting further until the case has been concluded.”

He isn’t the only player to have worn an Ipswich Town shirt to have been charged for drink-driving.

In 2007, Jason Dozzell was found guilty of driving with excess alcohol and was banned for three years.

He was also fined £750 and ordered to pay £65 costs when he appeared before magistrates in Ipswich.

The offence occurred in the early hours of December the 23rd 2017 and the court was told that Dozzell had been to watch Ipswich play before meeting up with friends.

Dozzell was stopped by a police officer after he drove his silver Audi through a no entry sign at Cardinal Park.

Lesla Small, prosecuting, said Dozzell had 63 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The limit is 35.

District judge David Cooper was told that Dozzell had recently lost his job as manager of Leiston and he had separated from his wife.

The judge told Dozzell he had acted “grossly irresponsibly” and he would have to endure the humiliation of appearing for his second drink-drive offence.

Dozzell was banned for 12 months in 2004 when he failed to give a specimen of breath.

Some years earlier, in 2002, ex-Ipswich Town defender Mark Venus appeared in court charged with drink-driving.

The one-time Ipswich Town Player of the Year winner, was arrested in Colchester after allegedly driving while over the limit.

He was released on police bail appeared at Colchester Magistrates Court and was subsequently banned from driving for 18 months and fined £3,000 at for being almost twice over the legal drink-drive limit.

It was just a year ago that two Derby County players were charged with drink-driving following a crash.

Mason Bennett and Tom Lawrence were arrested at the scene in Allestree, Derbyshire and charged on Wednesday, police said.

Club captain Richard Keogh was injured in the crash, and ruled out for the rest of the 2019–20 season.

Derby manager Phillip Cocu said that Keogh felt responsible for the situation, and after Lawrence and Bennett both returned to the team, Cocu said they were “not off the hook”.

Lawrence and Bennett were then both fined 6 weeks’ wages by Derby, and ordered to serve 80 hours of community service and rehabilitation. Keogh was sacked by the club.

On 15 October 2019 Lawrence and Bennett pleaded guilty to drink driving at Derby Magistrates Court.

Fans reacted on social media as Ipswich player James Norwood faces trial over the drink-driving charge…

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