DAN Wallace struck Commonwealth Games gold for Scotland in the pool - just two months after he feared being arrested had ended his swimming career.

Wallace came from behind to win a thrilling 400m individual medley final in the Tollcross Swimming Centre last night to the huge delight of the home crowd.

Thomas Fraser-Holmes of Australia led the race until the last 50 metres, but 21-year-old Wallace beat him into second place by 0.84 seconds.

Back in May the Edinburgh-born Wallace was worried that he was going to get kicked off the Scotland team after he was arrested in the United States.

The swimmer, whose parents had sold their house to pay for his fees at the University of Florida, was thrown in jail after being caught urinating on a police car.

He was suspended from his university team, where his coach was United States Olympic supremo Gregg Troy, and had to publicly apologise.

But the charges were dropped and the Scot - who yelled "freedom" after he finished first - was delighted at his achievement last night.

He said: "I had to re-evaluate what path I had to take. I think I took the right one. I am very happy to get a gold medal for me and the whole of Scotland.

"I had to re-evaluate how I was living. I was living the life of a rock star and still trying to perform in the pool. I realised I can't do both. I have learned from what I have been through.

"I have had some real highs and lows in and out of the pool. But the bottom line is I have seen what I can achieve as a person. And I think this is just the beginning of it. There is nothing to stop me.

"I thought my swimming career was over. It was a wake-up call. I have turned my life around.

"Seeing my whole family in tears at the end of made it all worthwhile. Being here in front of the home crowd has really brought out the Braveheart in me and the Scottish side of me. I thought I would soak up the moment and yelled 'freedom' at the end."

Corrie Scott picked up a bronze medal for Scotland in the 50m breaststroke - then put her celebrations on hold to target more success.

The 20-year-old from Bellshill last night came third in the 50m breaststroke - just 0.16 seconds behind winner Leiston Pickett of Australia. But the former East Kilbride swimmer competes again this weekend and said she would mark her success with a nice meal and an early night.

SHE said: "A lot of hard work has gone into this. I guess there have been a lot of early mornings and a lot of early nights. It has been a long, long time since I had a drink.

"But I wouldn't say I have made sacrifices because nights like this make it all worthwhile. I took a year out of university this year. I didn't want to leave any stone ­unturned. I wanted to get here and ace it and I did.

"But I have my 100m breaststroke on Sunday so it is all about getting ready for that now. My celebration tonight will eating some good food … and then going to bed."

She added: "It was amazing being on the podium and seeing the Saltire going up. But I got so many hugs from the Scottish team before that it made me cry. I had to go and put some make-up on so I didn't look a complete mess.

"Coming into this meet I was training so hard and everything was going so well. I knew I could go fast, but I didn't know how fast. I am so surprised. I am over the moon. It is the best day ever.

"When I came in all I wanted to do was improve on my times, get through the heats and get into the final. I knew that in the final anything could happen and it did."

Robbie Renwick surrendered his 200m freestyle title from Delhi when he trailed home in fifth in the final behind winner Fraser-Holmes.

Ross Murdoch, who beat Michael Jamieson to gold in the 200m breaststroke on Thursday, won his 100m breaststroke semi-final.