Graeme Swann ‘drove while drunk to save his trapped cat’

England cricketer Graeme Swann told police he was popping out to buy screwdrivers to rescue his cat after he was pulled over for drink-driving, a court heard today.

The 31-year-old spinner had been out with friends when he returned to his Nottinghamshire home and discovered his pet trapped under the floorboards.

Nottingham magistrates heard that he drove his Porsche Cayenne to Asda but was stopped by Pc Steven Denniss because he was in a high-performance car in an area where there had been a spate of burglaries.

The officer said Swann's speech was "slightly slurred" and the cricketer admitted that he "shouldn't have probably been driving".

"Mr Swann stated he had been out that evening and had come back to find his cat trapped under the floorboards in his house. He had gone to Asda to fetch some screwdrivers to remove some floorboards.

"His speech was slightly slurred but he was compliant. He was slightly upset due to the fact of his cat and what had just happened."

Swann gave a "borderline" blood test of 83mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood. The legal limit is 80mg. Swann denies drink driving. The case continues.