Pennant released from prison

Arsenal's Jermaine Pennant, seen here arriving at Aylesbury Magistrates Court near London on February 1, has been released from prison after serving 31 days of a three-month sentence for drink driving offences.

Arsenal winger Jermaine Pennant has been released from prison after serving 31 days of a three-month sentence for drink driving offences.

Pennant, who is currently on loan at Birmingham City until the end of the season, became eligible for release and will wear an electronic tag as part of his parole conditions.

Pennant pleaded guilty to drink driving while disqualified and was jailed on March 1.

In a statement upon his release, Pennant said: "It's a relief to be out, I'm looking forward to putting on my football boots and start training again.

"I'd like to thank all those that have helped me through this difficult period and I'll be making further statements in due course."

As well as being tagged, Pennant will be subject to a curfew, but he is expected to be available to Birmingham to train and play whenever manager Steve Bruce thinks he is ready.

Pennant was arrested in January after he was spotted in a car park in Aylesbury driving a Mercedes with a lamp post dragging beneath it.

He pleaded guilty at last month's hearing to charges of drink driving, driving while disqualified and using a vehicle without insurance.

When he was stopped his eyes were glazed and his speech slurred.

A breath test found he was almost two-and-a-half times the legal alcohol limit with 85 micrograms per 100ml of breath, the court heard. The legal maximum is 35 micrograms per 100ml of breath.

The former England Under-21 star had been banned from driving for 16 months in February last year after being seen travelling in the wrong lane in Paddington, west London. That period was later cut after he completed a special course.