Darren Day weapons case is postponed

ENTERTAINER Darren Day today appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court and was set to stand trial accused of having an offensive weapon in his possession but the case was postponed.

The singer was told he would have to travel from England to court again next month as the trial could not proceed today due to other business and the fact that a defence witness was not available.

Day spoke only to confirm his identity in court when he appeared in front of Sheriff Roderick MacLeod.

His defence agent Bobby Frazer said Day maintained his not guilty plea to the charge and was anxious for the trial to get started.

Last month Day, 41, was 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 Crown refused to accept Day's not guilty plea to a charge which alleges he had a kubotan, a small stick-like item often found on a key ring.

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 Day failed to report an accident and failed to cooperate with a preliminary breath test.

Day, who was charged while performing in hit Queen musical 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.

Day has been banned from driving but permanent forfeiture of the car will be considered at a later date.

He admitted driving with 58 microgrammes of alcohol in his breath – the limit being 35 microgrammes at Manor Place, Balfour Street and other roads in Edinburgh.

Day is accused of being in possession of the kubotan at the city's Balfour Street on the same day 18 December.

The singer, of Crown Road, Clacton-On-Sea, Essex, 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.