Aston Villa star Richard Dunne has been banned from driving for six months after he drove the wrong way up a one-way street in Birmingham.

The club’s central defender was also ordered to pay £408 in fines and costs after admitting the offence, which happened on September 19 last year when he was “looking for a parking space”.

Dunne, of Dutton, Warrington, already had nine penalty points on his licence and, after failing to attend a previous court hearing, had been warned he faced arrest if he did not appear at Birmingham Magistrates Court yesterday.

The court heard officers in a mobile police patrol car spotted Dunne driving his black Range Rover through a no entry section of Newhall Street in Birmingham at about 11.30am.

When the 31-year-old saw the officers he raised his hand before pulling over at their instruction.

Neither Dunne, a Republic of Ireland international, or his solicitor turned up to a hearing last month and the district judge adjourned the case stating that a warrant for Dunne’s arrest would be issued if he failed to attend again.

Dunne, a married father-of-two, attended the hearing yesterday.

Catherine Junor, defending, said: “He apologised to the court and pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity.

“He was very apologetic towards the officers, explaining he was trying to look for a car parking space.”

She described him as “well respected” and “very good at his job”.

Magistrate Gwyneth Magrath gave Dunne credit for his early guilty plea.

He was issued with three penalty points, banned from driving for six months and ordered to pay a £333 fine, £60 costs and £15 victim surcharge.

Dunne declined to comment on the sentence.

The footballer was signed from Manchester City for £5 million in 2009.