Former England soccer star Paul Gascoigne avoided jail Thursday after being handed a suspended sentenced for driving while more than four times over the British legal alcohol limit.

The 43-year-old was handed an eight week suspended sentence at Newcastle Magistrates Court, in northeastern England.

He previously admitted the drunk drive charge after he was stopped driving erratically by police in the Newcastle suburb of Jesmond.

He was found to have 142 milligrams of alcohol in 100 milliliters of breath. The limit is 35 milligrams.

Gascoigne, whose drink problems are well-documented, avoided sentencing last month after checking himself into a rehabilitation clinic.

He was set to face a separate DUI charge next week at Northallerton Magistrates Court in northeastern England. Gascoigne denies the charge.

A star of the 1990 World Cup, he played for his hometown club Newcastle United before injury-hit spells at Tottenham, Lazio, Rangers, Middlesbrough and Everton.