The Republic of Ireland international soccer player, Mark Kennedy, twice refused to take a breath test after being arrested on suspected drink-driving charges, a court was told yesterday.
Magistrates heard how the Republic of Ireland international was "obstructive" when taken to a police station in September last year.
The Wolverhampton Wanderers winger, of Oakwood House, Beachfield Road, Alderley Edge, Cheshire, denies failing to provide a breath specimen.
But the Dublin-born Kennedy (25) pleaded guilty to driving his car without due care and attention, a charge he had previously denied.
Charges of failing to stop for a police officer and driving while unfit through drink were dismissed by Northwich magistrates in Cheshire after the Crown Prosecution Service offered no evidence.
Kennedy, who was sold by Manchester City for £2 million last summer, was stopped in the early hours of September 9th, close to his home in the exclusive Alderley Edge area of Cheshire, and taken to nearby Wilmslow police station.
Mr Keith Jones, prosecuting, said: "It is the prosecution case that Mark Kennedy was obstructive at the police station.
He refused to give any details at all and - the crucial point - when asked to provide two specimens of breath, he told the officers in turn that he refused to do that."
Kennedy later told the court how he requested a solicitor as soon as he arrived at the police station.
Questioned by his lawyer, Mr Nick Freeman, the footballer agreed he refused to provide two specimens of breath.
When asked why, he said he was "waiting to speak to a solicitor and get his advice on what I should do next".
Kennedy went on to explain that his girlfriend of seven years had heard of problems in Cheshire with the breathalyser machine.
However, had a police officer explained that the test could not be delayed, Kennedy said he would have blown into the machine as asked.
Kennedy told the court he spent part of the previous evening in Brasingamens wine bar in Alderley Edge.
While there he drank three bottles of Smirnoff Ice.
But under cross-examination he denied he was over the drink-drive limit.
"I was more than clear in my mind that I was fine. I was sober. I was not over the limit," Kennedy told the court.
Earlier the court heard evidence from the arresting officer, PC Dave Worthington.
He said he recognised the footballer as he had previously attended Wilmslow police station "over another matter".
He told magistrates that Kennedy, once English football's most expensive teenager, was "unco-operative" on the morning of the arrest.
"His behaviour was quite obstructive, and when he was asked to provide a specimen of breath he refused twice," said the officer.
A custody sergeant told the court how Kennedy refused to divulge his personal details, giving "no comment" answers to the questions posed.
"He had refused to provide any personal details and whilst he was stood at the custody desk at one point he turned his back on me," said the sergeant.
The case was adjourned until February 1st.