In a prepared statement to police, Ducksch said he was driving home and admitted “he did have alcohol before he drove” and had “clipped an oncoming car and another one following behind”, the court heard.
Chairman of the bench John Kiely told the footballer: “You can consider yourself lucky first of all that you weren’t killed and secondly that the other drivers weren’t killed.
“That’s how serious this matter is.”
During mitigation, defence solicitor Julia Morgan said Ducksch, whose former clubs include Werder Bremen and Borussia Dortmund, had a promising career ahead of him.
She added: “Mr Ducksch waited at the scene for the police.
“They didn’t arrive immediately but he waited and he checked on the welfare of the occupants of the other vehicles.”
Magistrates handed Ducksch a 14-month driving ban alongside a fine of £16,155, a total of £2,000 in compensation, a £2,000 surcharge and a bill for costs of £85.
