Henry Cecil was yesterday fined £3,000 and banned from driving for five years after being convicted of a second drink-driving offence.

Cecil (57) of Newmarket, Suffolk, struck an elderly couple walking along a road as he drove his Mercedes while 21/2 times above the legal drink-drive limit, magistrates in Ely, Cambridgeshire, heard.

Len Hurrell (78) suffered cuts to his elbow which needed stitches. His wife Joan (77) suffered a broken right arm.

The court heard that compensation was being arranged through Cecil's insurers.

Initially, Cecil lied to police by saying a friend was driving when the accident happened in Ashley, at about 5.30 p.m. on Sunday July 16th, the court heard. He admitted his guilt the following day.

Magistrate Sue Thompson told Cecil, who was also convicted of a drink-driving offence in 1991, that he had shown "complete disregard for the safety of other road users" because he must have known that he was "intoxicated" when he got behind the wheel.

Cecil, who has trained four Derby winners and been champion flat racing trainer 10 times, left court without comment.

Magistrates heard he had made a public apology shortly after the accident.

Cecil, who was also ordered to pay £69 court costs, was told his ban would be reduced by a quarter if he completed a drink-driving awareness course.

Christopher Harding, for Cecil, said: "He (Cecil) didn't appreciate that he had drunk a sufficient amount of alcohol to place himself over the limit. Had he realised, he never would have driven the car."

Harding outlined personal difficulties Cecil had suffered during the previous 12 months, including "a very public separation" from his wife, Natalie.

Harding said Cecil was also under great personal strain because his twin, David, was suffering from terminal cancer.

He added: "During the course of the preceding 12 months, he has experienced tremendous personal difficulties."

He said Cecil's previous drink driving offence dated back to 1991 and he had been disqualified from driving.

Cecil "had no kind of problem" relating to drink" he added. He had been "extremely shaken and shocked" by the accident in July.

The trainer issued a public apology to Mr and Mrs Hurrell and expressed his regret for their injuries shortly after the accident.

"It is right to say there was some denial that he was the driver of the vehicle," added Mr Harding.

"That was rectified by Mr Cecil as soon as it could be."

Mr Harding said Cecil was a "man of means" who would be able to pay any fine imposed.