Evans 'may have drunk eight times safe limit'

Chris Evans may have consumed more than eight times the medically recommended "safe" level of alcohol during a three-day binge before he left the Virgin Radio breakfast show, it was claimed at the High Court yesterday.

Mr Evans' consumption may have totalled 25 units a day between 20 June and 22 June 2001 compared with the safe level of three units, according to Geoffrey Vos QC, representing the DJ's former employers, Scottish Media Group, which bought Virgin Radio from Mr Evans. Mr Evans is suing SMG for unfair dismissal and £8.6m. SMG is countersuing for breach of contract.

Mr Evans' GP, John Gayner, confirmed that such a level of alcohol would have been a "huge amount" and would have contributed to feelings of anxiety and low mood. He told Mr Justice Lightman that he saw Mr Evans at his home in London on the evening of 27 June 2001. "I found him to be extremely upset and at times he could not prevent himself from crying," he said. Mr Evans told the doctor he was experiencing a conflict between his role as a creative talent and being a business manager. Dr Gayner said he diagnosed that Mr Evans had become "chronically stressed".

Dr Adrianne Reveley, a psychiatrist, said a definitive diagnosis of a recognised disorder was speculative. She considered it unlikely that Mr Evans had ever had a psychiatric disorder, with the possible exception of substance misuse (binge drinking).

The hearing was adjourned until Monday.