A former ITV cycling presenter who led a police chase on his bicycle while drunk, has been fined after being found guilty of being drunk in charge of a pedal cycle and failing to stop for a police officer.
Richard Cunynghame allegedly cycled into a police car following the pursuit in Chelsea.
He now faces a12 month conditional discharge and has been to pay £620 plus a £20 surcharge, paid in weekly £20 instalments.
Richard Cunynghame, aged 36 and a past host of The Cycle Show which first aired in 2012, pleaded not guilty to the charges at Hammersmith Magistrates’ Court, as we reported in April.
He was bailed to reappear at the City of London Magistrates Court for a trial, where he said he only had two glasses of wine.
After the presenter smashed into the car, he told officers 'what the f***' before drunkenly slurring 'I was run off my bike', according to the Daily Mail.
Magistrate Annie Allum said: “We believe in the evidence of the two police officers.
“We believe that Mr Cunynghame's judgement was impacted by alcohol, not what would be expected by an experienced professional cyclist which he says he is.
“For the offences we find the police to be credible, we do not believe Mr Cunynghame's evidence that he did not see or hear the police officers or hear the police car.
“We are satisfied in both cases that these offences have been proved beyond reasonable doubt.'
Defence lawyer Mr Vollans said: “The finding if guilty will have adverse consequences - it will affect his sponsorship.'
“It will affect his long-term employment, it will affect his ability to gain employment and it will affect his employment as it stands today.”
The court also heard that Cunynghame earns £20,000 a year and had a previous drink drive conviction dating back to 2000.
British national downhill champion in 2012 in the masters 30-34 age group, besides his work on The Cycle Show Cunynghame has worked as a director for the likes of Dirt TV and Red Bull, for whom he made the long-running online video series, The Atherton Project.