Team GB dressage coach Tracie Robinson lands road ban for drink-driving

The top dressage coach for Team GB has been banned from the roads for driving nearly three times over the limit.

Tracie Robinson, who is based in Leicestershire, was banned for two years by city magistrates on Wednesday after the court heard how her car slowed down, then speeded up and mounted the pavement.

Prosecutor Kwok Wan said a member of the public called the police after seeing Ms Robinson's sponsored Land Rover Discovery weaving about the road on January 22.

Mr Wan said: "At about 11pm, officers at Lutterworth police station heard a loud bang and looked out of the window.

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"They noticed there was damage to fencing near the fire station but no vehicle was in sight.

"Twelve minutes later, police received a call from a member of the public who said he was following a vehicle which seemed to be driven by someone who was under the influence.

"The vehicle had been seen driving slowly, at some point at 20 mph, before speeding up, mounting pavements and swerving over the carriageway."

Mr Wan said the member of public followed the Land Rover until it parked on a driveway in Main Street, Peatling Parva.

Police went to the address and Robinson admitted she had been driving the car.

Robinson, whose expertise helped team GB win an individual gold and bronze medal and team gold in dressage at the London 2012 Olympics, gave a positive roadside breath test and was arrested.

Robinson (52) of Main Street, Peatling Parva, near Lutterworth, pleaded guilty to driving on Gilmorton Road, Lutterworth, while, over the drink drive limit.

She gave a reading of 92 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

As well as the ban, chairman of the bench Rasheed Cader put her on a year-long community order with 80 hours of unpaid work. She was ordered to pay £85 costs and a £60 victim surcharge.

Miss Imogen Cox, in mitigation, said her client was of previous good character and full of remorse for her actions.

She said Robinson was more worried about the effect her conviction would have on the GB dressage team than herself.

Miss Cox said Robinson had already paid out £5,000 to have the Land Rover repaired.

She said Robinson was the coach for the elite members of the team GB dressage team and had to travel all over the country and Europe to train the sports people.

Miss Cox asked the bench to work outside the national guidelines and restrict the length of ban given.

She said: "She did it. She is prepared to take the punishment she deserves for this offence. She has lost her sponsored vehicle and will have to buy her own car and pay a driver. These are exceptional circumstances."

After the hearing, Robinson declined to comment.