Television presenter loses job on crime show after drink-driving

Stewart, 50, admitted crashing his Mercedes into a hedge while three times the drink-driving limit. He was banned from driving for 23 months and fined 2,000 yesterday.

His sentence had been reduced from a 30-month ban and fine of 3,000 after he agreed to go on a rehabilitation course for disqualified drivers.

Police arrested Stewart, of Bramdean, Hampshire, at his home after receiving a call from a member of the public that his car had crashed into a hedge and a telegraph pole, causing extensive damage, on 19 June.

He was taken to a police station where he gave two breath tests, the lower of which gave a reading of 112 micrograms - about three times the legal limit.

Stewart confirmed to police that he had been in an accident and was held in custody overnight until he could be questioned, the court heard.

Sentencing Stewart at Basingstoke Magistrates’ Court, Julia Etheridge, the chairwoman of the bench, said: "You of all people should realise the potential consequences that could happen.

"We have considered a custodial sentence. However, due to your remorse and your guilty plea at the earliest opportunity, we are going to deal with this by way of a disqualification and a fine."

Rupert Pardoe, defending, told magistrates that Stewart was under a lot of stress in the period leading up to the incident because of his heavy work schedule.

Mr Pardoe also said that the producers of Police, Camera, Action! had decided that Stewart was no longer an appropriate frontman for the show.

He said: "They no longer feel able to continue with his role in that programme, as you may understand."