Caught over drinks limit
A Stirling swimmer has been banned from driving after being found over the limit while behind the wheel.
Dan Wallace, a medallist at the Olympic and Commonwealth Games, pleaded guilty to drink driving at Stirling Sheriff Court on Wednesday.
The 24-year-old was subject to a routine stop by police officers in the early hours of June 1 outside his home in Queens Lane, Bridge of Allan.
Wallace was found to be more than twice the legal limit, with 54mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 22mcg.
The court heard he had driven home after being at a gathering with friends in Stirling.
Fiscal depute Laura Knox said the swimmer had been stopped by police to check his documents at around 3.15am.
“They spoke to the accused, who was the driver,” she said. “Police officers could smell alcohol from his breath and he was required to carry out a roadside breath test.”
Ewen Roy, defending, said his client had spent his day off from training with friends and had been eating and drinking.
He said: “He advises me he wasn’t drinking constantly throughout the day and also that he’d had plenty of food. He then took what he thought was a reasonably lengthy break from drinking before driving the two miles home.
“He thought he was fit to drive. Clearly that was a significant error.
“He tells me the roads were very quiet. I understand there was nothing problematic at all with the manner of his driving.”
The court heard that Wallace, an elite member of Stirling University’s swimming squad, would not be paid while he is suspended from the sport for the next three months, meaning he will lose out on around £7000.
Wallace was driving an A180 Mercedes AMG but his solicitor said he was planning to end the lease on the swish hatchback.
Mr Roy added: “He is a man who has represented his country at the highest level with some distinction.
“He is very conscious that he has let himself down, his family, his friends and his colleagues. He fully appreciates that as an athlete he is a role model and accordingly far better conduct is expected from somebody in his position.”
Wallace was banned from driving for 12 months and fined £600
The swimmer scooped a silver medal as part of the 4 x 200 metre freestyle relay team for Great Britain in Rio and was also a medal winner at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
He joined Stirling University’s swimming team, one of the most successful in Britain, following last year’s Olympic Games. He is not a student at the university.
A spokesperson for the university said: “The actions of athlete Dan Wallace are not acceptable and very disappointing.
“We do not condone such behaviour and are working closely with Scottish and British Swimming to address this serious mistake.”
Swimming bosses have suspended Wallace from competition until September 12 and he has also signed a letter outlining his commitment to work with the necessary support systems.
A joint statement from British Swimming national performance director Chris Spice and Scottish Swimming director of performance Ally Whike said: “This is clearly unacceptable behaviour from Dan and we are disappointed by his actions.
“Together, we will now support him through this difficult period to try to get this young and talented man back on track.”