Stage star Day hit by five-year ban after drink-drive shame

Day, 41, previously admitted getting behind the wheel while over the legal alcohol limit and failing to stop after an accident.

The stage and screen star, of Cudworth, South Yorkshire, was found to have 58 microgrammes of alcohol on his breath after the incident in Edinburgh's West End a week before Christmas last year. The legal limit is 35.

He was arrested in the early hours of December 18 while in the Scottish capital starring in the hit Queen musical We Will Rock You.

He had only recently returned to the road after being disqualified for 18 months for drink-driving in Cardiff in 2008.

Sentencing at Edinburgh Sheriff Court followed a short trial in which Day was further convicted of possessing an offensive weapon, a five-inch martial arts stick called a kubotan which the court heard had been given to him by a friend in 1996 to use as a key ring.

Day spoke of his relief after the matter was dealt with yesterday.

"I'm very relieved it's over. I am deeply sorry and ashamed of what's happened, especially for my family.

"I'm just very keen to move on now with my career and my life and leave it behind me."

Day originally faced six charges after the accident in Edinburgh's Manor Place.

In court he admitted two charges – failing to stop at the scene of the accident and driving in Manor Place, Balfour Street and other roads in Edinburgh while over the drink-drive limit.

His pleas of not guilty to allegations that he drove without due care and attention, failed to report the accident to police and failed to co-operate with a preliminary breath test were accepted by prosecutors.

Sheriff William Holligan disqualified Day from driving for five years and fined him 900 in relation to the drink-driving offence.

He fined him a further 350 for failing to stop at the scene, amounting to a financial penalty of 1,250.