Dempster's blood alcohol was twice the legal limit

At Richmond Magistrates Court Dempster and six other defendants argued the alcohol testing equipment was unreliable and could be confused by various medical conditions.

Their lawyers also argued the manufacturer had modified the device without the proper Home Office approval so its evidence should not be used to convict the defendants.

However, district judge Paul Clark rejected the argument after a 10-day trial and found the defendants guilty of driving with excess alcohol.

Daily Mail columnist Dempster, 61, of Ham Common, Surrey, was arrested on 3 February, 2001, after his car collided with a lamppost on a pedestrian crossing near his home.

To put it bluntly, Mr Dempster lied to the police District judge Paul Clark

He was then taken to Richmond police station where a second test was carried out, the court was told.

The machine found Dempster's blood alcohol level was almost double the legal limit.

In his judgment, Judge Clark said: "When he (Dempster) was asked straightforwardly if he had had anything to drink, he answered `no'. I find as a fact that was untrue.

"To put it bluntly, Mr Dempster lied to the police."

'Serious consequences'

Robin Falvey, for Dempster, said his client had been watching a game of rugby on TV and had drunk a bottle of wine and had then made an error of judgment.

However, Judge Clark said: "If somebody had been using that pedestrian crossing something very serious indeed could have occurred."

He adjourned sentencing Dempster until 16 June.

The cases of Amanda Hicks, of Muswell Hill, north London; John Bowman, of Marlow, Bucks and Abablhamid Zitoun, of New Malden, Surrey, were adjourned until 3 July to allow time for pre-sentence reports, because they had higher blood alcohol levels than the others.

Hendrick Smit, of Teddington, south-west London and William Antoine, of Hanwell, west London, were both banned from driving for 18 months and each ordered to pay a fine of �500 and �840 costs.

Leigh Moody, of Twickenham, south-west London, was banned from driving for 21 months and ordered to pay a fine of �500 and �840 costs.