Wellington Phoenix defender Tim Payne has been fined A$700 after pleading guilty to a drink-driving offence in Australia.

The New Zealand international football player was sentenced at Manly Local Court on Monday, after he was stopped by police while joy-riding on a golf cart on a public road in the early hours of March 24 when he was supposed to be in Covid-19 quarantine.

According to NSW Police, Payne underwent a roadside breath test and was then taken to Mona Vale Police Station where he allegedly returned a 0.100 breath-alcohol reading.

He pleaded guilty to a mid-range drink-driving charge on June 10.

On Monday, Payne was ordered by the court to pay a A$700 ($747.7) fine.

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Earlier this month, Payne was slapped with a four-game suspension from the FFA for breaching the National Code of Conduct, as was back-up Phoenix goalkeeper Oliver Sail, who was in the passenger seat of the golf cart at the time. Sail was not charged by the police.

The Phoenix have since returned to Australia, where they are currently in the midst of another 14-day stint in quarantine as they prepare for the resumption of the A-League season in mid-July.

The team’s next match is against leaders Sydney FC on July 17.

Their remaining six regular season games will be played in Australia.

Although they will be without Payne for their next four rounds, the 26-year-old’s loss has been offset by the return of first-choice right-back Louis Fenton from a long-term shoulder injury.

Prior to leaving Wellington, Fenton declared himself fully fit and said he was ready to win back his starting spot.

“I want to play every game and even if Tim was still available I think I’d be trying to push him and trying to get my spot back in the starting 11,” he said.

Wellington Phoenix defender Tim Payne has pleaded guilty to drink-driving after a shirtless late-night joy ride in a golf cart in Sydney.

The All White football international issued his guilty plea to a mid-range drink-driving charge via email in the Manly Local Court on Wednesday, NSW Courts confirmed to Stuff, and will be sentenced on June 29.

Payne was charged after breaking the Phoenix’s 14-day Covid-19 quarantine by leaving the team’s base at the Sydney Academy of Sport at North Narrabeen to drive the golf cart on a public road in the early hours of March 24.

NSW Police said at the time Payne had undergone a roadside breath test and was taken to Mona Vale police station where he allegedly returned a 0.100 breath-alcohol reading.

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The Transport for NSW website says a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 to less than 0.15 carries a minimum disqualification of six months and maximum court-imposed fine of AU$2200 (NZ$2353) for a first offence.

A Manly Daily report stated police were alerted after motorists saw the golf cart on the road.

Payne returned to New Zealand with the Phoenix after the incident when the A-League was suspended due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

He was issued with a court notice to appear for plea or mention in Manly Local Court on June 10.

Payne sent an email, via his New Zealand solicitor, to the court, admitting his guilt.

A sentence can be imposed in Payne’s absence on June 29 if needed. The Phoenix squad is currently split between Wellington, Australia, England, and Mexico, but they are set to reassemble in Sydney later this month, as the A-League eyes a return to action in July.

A tearful Payne told Radio Sport on March 26 he was sorry for his actions, and apologised for embarrassing his club.

“I just want to say I am incredibly sorry and incredibly embarrassed for what I’ve done,” he said.

“I take full responsibility for my actions and for what unfolded on that night. I’ve let so many people down including my partner, my family, the club as a whole and individuals such as Uffie [coach Ufuk Talay], who has given me a chance this season.

“I’m incredibly embarrassed and so sorry that I’ve let so many people down.”

He added that he would take “full responsibility” for any legal sanctions in Australia and for any penalties imposed by the Phoenix and Football Federation Australia, who oversee the A-League.

The Phoenix said on March 26 that they were taking the matter seriously as they launched an investigation, but have provided no further update in the 12 weeks since. An FFA investigation is also underway.

Payne was on the books of English Premier League side Blackburn Rovers as a teenager, but has mostly played in New Zealand’s amateur national league for Auckland City and Eastern Suburbs, who he won the title with in 2019.

He signed a one-year professional deal with the Phoenix last July and extended his contract through to 2022 in January, after becoming a regular starter at right back in the absence of injured veteran Louis Fenton.

The Wellington Phoenix’s All Whites football defender Tim Payne has pleaded guilty to drink-driving after a shirtless late-night joy ride in a golf court during lockdown in Sydney.

Payne issued his guilty plea to a mid-range drink-driving charge, via email from New Zealand, in the Manly District Court on Wednesday, according to a report in the Manly Daily and Daily Telegraph.

The 26-year-old A-League fullback will be sentenced on June 29.

Payne was charged after breaking the Phoenix’s 14-day coronavirus lockdown by leaving the team’s base at the Sydney Academy of Sport at North Narrabeen to drive the golf cart on a public road.

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Payne – with Phoenix reserve goalkeeper Oliver Sail in the passenger seat – was stopped by police on Oxford Falls Rd, 4km from the team’s base, at 1.10am.

Reports at the time claimed Payne had a roadside breath test and was then taken to Mona Vale police station where he allegedly returned a 0.100 breath-alcohol reading.

According to the Transport for NSW website a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 to less than 0.15 and carries a minimum disqualification of six months and maximum court-imposed fine of $2200 for a first offence.

The Manly Daily report stated police were alerted after motorists saw the golf cart on the road.

Payne returned to New Zealand with the Phoenix after the incident when the A-League was suspended due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

He was issued with a court notice to appear for plea or mention in Manly Local Court on June 10.

Payne sent an email, via his New Zealand solicitor, to the court, admitting his guilt.

The Manly Daily report noted that a sentence can be imposed in Payne’s absence on June 29.

A tearful Payne told Radio Sport on March 26 he was sorry for his actions, and apologised for embarrassing his club.

“I just want to say I am incredibly sorry and incredibly embarrassed for what I’ve done,” he said.

“I take full responsibility for my actions and for what unfolded on that night. I’ve let so many people down including my partner, my family, the club as a whole and individuals such as Uffie [coach Ufuk Talay], who has given me a chance this season.

“I’m incredibly embarrassed and so sorry that I’ve let so many people down.

“It was the last day before we left to come home and myself and Oliver Sail took a golf cart for a ride in the early hours of the evening. Contrary to reports we weren’t arrested and the public did not intervene.”

Payne told Radio Sport he would take “full responsibility” for any legal sanctions in Australia and any penalties imposed by the Phoenix and Football Federation Australia, who run the A-League.

“It was definitely a mistake on my behalf. It’s just one of those things you wish you could take back. With anything you do in life, there’s got to be repercussions… I 100 per cent expect there to be repercussions for my actions.”

On the books of Blackburn Rovers as a teenager, Payne has worked hard to resurrect football career in recent seasons following spells with national league sides Auckland City and Eastern Suburbs.

The Aucklander was invited to trial with the Phoenix in pre-season and signed a one-year deal. He became a regular at right-back after stepping in to replace the injured Louis Fenton in round five.

Payne negotiated a two-year contract extension last January.

Tim Payne has issued a tearful apology after the Wellington Phoenix defender was charged with a drink-driving offence while the team was supposed to be in self-isolation.

Football Federation Australia have launched an investigation after Payne and Phoenix team-mate Oliver Sail were stopped by New South Wales Police while joyriding in a golf cart on Oxford Falls Road at 1:20am on Tuesday.

Both players are expected to cop a hefty fine or suspension.

“I just want to say I am incredibly sorry and incredibly embarrassed for what I’ve done,” Payne told Radio Sport.

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“I take full responsibility for my actions and for what unfolded on that night. I’ve let so many people down including my partner, my family, the club as a whole and individuals such as Uffie [coach Ufuk Talay], who has given me a chance this season.

“I’m incredibly embarrassed and so sorry that I’ve let so many people down.”

Police conducted a roadside breath test, which Payne returned a positive result. He was subsequently taken to Mona Vale Police Station, where he allegedly returned a breath analysis reading of 0.100.

He was charged with a drive middle-range PCA and will appear before a Manly Local Court on June 10. 

According to the Transport for NSW website a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 to less than 0.15 and carries a minimum disqualification of six months and maximum court-imposed fine of $2200 for a first offence.

The FFA said in a statement the matter is being taken very seriously and If any misconduct is found to have occurred, they will take action under the code’s national code of conduct.

“There will be some legal sanctions in Australia, yes. I take full responsibility for that and whatever the club decides and the FFA decides, I’ll take full responsibility,” Payne said.

“It was the last day before we left to come home and myself and Oliver Sail took a golf cart for a ride in the early hours of the evening. Contrary to reports we weren’t arrested and the public did not intervene.”

On the books of Blackburn Rovers as a teenager, Payne has worked hard to resurrect football career in recent seasons following spells with national league sides Auckland City and Eastern Suburbs.

The 26-year-old was invited to trial with the Phoenix in pre-season but has since become a regular at right-back after stepping in to replace the injured Louis Fenton in round five.

The Phoenix confirmed there was an incident involving Payne and Sail which resulted in damage to the Sydney Academy of Sport facility they were staying at while in isolation.

They said they are taking the matter “very seriously” and will make a further statement when their own internal investigation is complete.

“It was definitely a mistake on my behalf. It’s just one of those things you wish you could take back. With anything you do in life, there’s got to be repercussions… I 100 per cent expect there to be repercussions for my actions.”

Payne could avoid attending court in Sydney by lodging his plea from New Zealand.