Olympic gold medal-winning rower Zac Purchase has been fined after refusing to tell police who was driving his car.

The 27-year-old admitted failing to give information relating to the identity of the driver of an Audi TT alleged to have been guilty of an offence between May 23 and June 20 last year.

He appeared at the court on March 7 and magistrates’ fined him £250, a £25 victims’ surcharge and £80 costs. His licence was endorsed with six penalty points.

But the court record shows Purchase, of High Street, Kingston Blount, was spared a driving ban due to the “effect on his wife’s health, community work, loss of job and ability to train and therefore obtain future funding”.

Last month, Purchase announced his retirement from international rowing. The double scull competitor won a gold in the Beijing Olympics and a silver in London.