Over-the-limit Darren Day gets banned from driving

ENTERTAINER Darren Day was today banned from driving after he admitted getting behind the wheel while over the limit and failing to stop and give his name and address after an accident.

But the 41-year-old is to face trial over a charge which alleges he was in possession of an offensive weapon, a kubotan which is a small stick-like item.

Day had been accused of driving carelessly, losing control of his vehicle and crashing into a lamp post but his not guilty plea to this charge was accepted by the Crown.

Not guilty pleas were also accepted for charges which alleged he failed to report an accident and failed to cooperate with a preliminary breath test.

Day, who recently appeared in We Will Rock You at Edinburgh Playhouse, had his Mercedes vehicle seized by the Crown after he appeared from custody at the city's sheriff court on 18 December – hours after he had been arrested for drink driving, which he has now admitted.

Sheriff James Scott said permanent forfeiture of the car would be considered when the case calls again next month but ordered he be disqualified from driving until he is sentenced.

Former ITV You Bet show presenter Day, who once had a record deal with X Factor mogul Simon Cowell, admitted driving with 58mg of alcohol in 100ml of his breath – the limit being 35mg in 100ml of breath at Manor Place, Balfour Street and other roads in Edinburgh.

He failed to give his name and address after the accident at Manor Place, also on 18 December last year.

The star's agent Bobby Frazer denied the offensive weapon charge but The Crown refused to accept a not guilty plea for the allegation which accuses Day of being in possession of a kubotan at the city's Balfour Street also on 18 December.

The singer shot to fame back in 1993 when he took over the starring role from Jason Donovan in West End production Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat.