 Lee Ryan, right, with the other members of boy band Blue |
A member of hit boy band Blue has been banned from driving for 18 months after admitting drink-driving. Lee Ryan, 20, from Kidbrooke, south east London, was also ordered to pay a �2,250 fine at Tower Bridge magistrate's court on Friday.
The singer admitted drink driving and driving without due care and attention after being arrested in the early hours of 11 August.
Blue are one of the most successful pop groups in the UK and Ryan is one of the chart-topping quartet's best-known members.
Ryan was stopped by police just after 0400 BST on 11 August on Tower Bridge Road, south London.
The group were voted best pop act at this year's Brit Awards.
Protest song
They scored their first UK number one single in September 2001, and have reached the top spot twice more, including a duet with Sir Elton John.
Ryan recently wrote a protest song against war in Iraq, which appeared on a charity album.
But he came in for criticism after 11 September 2001, when he said the attacks on New York were "blown out of proportion" and people should be more worried about the plights of whales and elephants.
In June, Blue settled a High Court battle with a 1970s rock band - also called Blue - over the use of the name.
One-Minute World News 
News services
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version 