Suspended jail term for drink driver who collapsed at the roadside

Police say Michael Watts was more than four times the breath alcohol limit when he was discovered on the ground beside his Renault Traffic van, which was parked in a layby on the A293 close to the A27.

A concerned member of the public called police and paramedics after seeing him alight from a van and collapse at about 2.15pm on Monday 27 June.

Officers arrived and arrested the driver after he failed a roadside breath test.

Watts, 58, a carpenter, of Cokeham Lane, Sompting, was subsequently charged with driving with 159mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath in his system. The legal limit is 35mg.

He pleaded guilty at Brighton Magistrates’ Court on Monday 11 July and was sentenced to 12 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months. He was also disqualified from driving for 36 months, ordered to carry out 40 hours of unpaid work in the next 12 months, and pay £85 costs and a £140 victim surcharge.

A statement from Sussex Police said: “A total of 204 arrests were made in Sussex between Monday 6 June and Sunday 10 July as part of Operation Dragonfly, Surrey and Sussex Police’s summer crackdown on drink and drug-drivers.

“As of today (Wednesday 13 July), 45 people have been convicted, with each receiving a minimum 12-month driving disqualification.”

Jasprete Singh, 34, a painter, of Milton Mount, Crawley, was arrested in Caburn Heights, Crawley, on 16 June and charged with driving with 51mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath in his system.

He pleaded guilty at Crawley Magistrates’ Court on 1 July and was disqualified from driving for 14 months. He was also ordered to pay a £480 fine, £85 costs and a £48 victim surcharge.

Lewis Brockhurst, 22, a carpet fitter, of Bethune Road, Horsham, was arrested on the A264 at Broadbridge Heath on 19 June and charged with driving with 40mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath in his system.

He pleaded guilty at Crawley Magistrates’ Court on 4 July and was disqualified from driving for 12 months. He was also ordered to pay a £370 fine, £85 costs and a £37 victim surcharge.

Michael Aquisap, 25, a care assistant, of Pondtail Road, Horsham, was arrested in Guildford Road, Broadbridge Heath, on 19 June and charged with driving with 56mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath in his system.

He pleaded guilty at Crawley Magistrates’ Court on 5 July and was disqualified from driving for 15 months. He was also ordered to pay a £230 fine, £85 costs and a £30 victim surcharge.

Avinash Mahabeb, 39, an electrician, of Payne Close, Crawley, was arrested in Hazelwick Avenue, Crawley, on 22 June and charged with driving with 100mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath in his system.

He pleaded guilty at Crawley Magistrates’ Court on 7 July and was disqualified from driving for 40 months. He was also ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work in the next 12 months, and pay £85 costs and a £85 victim surcharge.

Matthew Chapman, 43, a clerk, of Gossops Green Lane, Crawley, was arrested in Pegler Way, Crawley, on 25 June, and charged with driving with 90mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath in his system and failing to stop at a red light.

He pleaded guilty at Crawley Magistrates’ Court on 11 July and was disqualified from driving for 23 months. He was also ordered to pay a £500 fine, £85 costs and a £50 victim surcharge.

Jonathan Bromell, 28, a scientist, of Gallipot Hill, Hartfield, was arrested in Hazelwick Avenue, Crawley, on 25 June and charged with driving with 84mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath in his system.

He pleaded guilty at Crawley Magistrates’ Court on 11 July and was disqualified from driving for 20 months. He was also ordered to pay a £400 fine, £85 costs and a £40 victim surcharge.

Paul Roddie, 55, unemployed, of Rivermead, Pulborough, was arrested in Church Place, Pulborough, on 16 June and charged with driving with 137mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath in his system.

He pleaded guilty at Worthing Magistrates’ Court on 12 July and was sentenced to nine weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months. He was also disqualified from driving for 36 months, and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £140 victim surcharge.

Tracy Hendry, 51, unemployed, of Burnt House Lane, Cowfold, was arrested on the A24 at Buck Barn on 17 June and charged with driving with 76mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath in her system.

She pleaded guilty at Worthing Magistrates’ Court on 12 July and was disqualified from driving for 15 months. She was also ordered to pay a £450 fine, £85 costs and a £45 victim surcharge.

Angelo Capaldi, 57, self-employed, of Sutherland Road, Brighton, was arrested in Shirley Street, Hove, on 17 June, and charged with driving with 58mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath in his system, driving with no licence and driving with no insurance.

He pleaded guilty at Brighton Magistrates’ Court on 4 July and was disqualified from driving for 12 months. He was also ordered to pay a £600 fine, £85 costs and a £30 victim surcharge.

Jemima Hallett, 25, a customer service agent, of Brighton Road, Tadworth, Surrey, was arrested in Crawley Avenue, Crawley, on 22 June and charged with driving with 91mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath in her system.

She pleaded guilty at Crawley Magistrates’ Court on 6 July and was disqualified from driving for 23 months. She was also ordered to pay £85 costs and a £30 victim surcharge.

Stephanie Collins, 60, a passenger carrying vehicle driver, of Marshall Avenue, Bognor Regis, was arrested in Hawthorn Road, Bognor Regis, on 10 June and charged with driving with 93mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath in her system.

She pleaded guilty at Worthing Magistrates’ Court on 5 July and was disqualified from driving for 24 months. She was also ordered to pay a £120 fine, £85 costs and a £30 victim surcharge.

James Gilmore, 67, a stable worker, of Perceval Close, Easebourne, was arrested in Vanzell Road, Easebourne, on 11 June and charged with driving with 65mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath in his system.

He pleaded guilty at Worthing Magistrates’ Court on 5 July and was disqualified from driving for 17 months. He was also ordered to pay a £500 fine, £85 costs and a £50 victim surcharge.

Arnis Janaitis, 31, a warehouseman, of no fixed address, was arrested on the A259 at Bognor Regis on 12 June, and charged with driving with 87mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath in his system, driving with no licence and driving with no insurance.

He pleaded guilty at Worthing Magistrates’ Court on 5 July and was disqualified from driving for 22 months. He was also ordered to pay a £500 fine, £85 costs and a £30 victim surcharge.

Benjamin Graysmark, 22, a window fitter, of St Dunstan’s Road, Worthing, was arrested in Teville Road, Worthing, on 12 June, and charged with driving with 82mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath in his system and possession of cannabis.

He pleaded guilty at Worthing Magistrates’ Court on 5 July and was disqualified from driving for 17 months. He was also ordered to pay a £420 fine, £85 costs and a £37 victim surcharge.

Jordan Rose, 23, a roofer, of New Moorsite, Hastings, was arrested in St Helens Road, Hastings, on 16 June and charged with driving with 105mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath in his system.

He pleaded guilty at Hastings Magistrates’ Court on 6 July and was disqualified from driving for 23 months. He was also ordered to carry out 40 hours of unpaid work in the next 12 months, and pay £85 costs and a £85 victim surcharge.

Patricia Warner, 64, retired, of Monterey Gardens, Bexhill, was arrested in St Margarets Road, St Leonards, on 18 June and charged with driving with 110mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath in her system.

She pleaded guilty at Hastings Magistrates’ Court on 6 July and was disqualified from driving for 24 months. She was also ordered to pay £85 costs and a £85 victim surcharge.

Margaret Udeen, 63, retired, of Hartington Road, Brighton, was arrested in Bernard Road, Brighton, on 24 June and charged with driving with 46mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath in her system.

She pleaded guilty at Brighton Magistrates’ Court on 11 July and was disqualified from driving for 12 months. She was also ordered to pay a £237 fine, £85 costs and a £30 victim surcharge.

Sharon McLellan, 39, an animal trainer, of Victoria Drive, Eastbourne, was arrested in The Drove, Newhaven, on 25 June and charged with driving with 106mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath in her system.

She pleaded guilty at Brighton Magistrates’ Court on 11 July and was disqualified from driving for 23 months. She was also ordered to carry out 60 hours of unpaid work in the next 12 months, and pay £85 costs and a £85 victim surcharge.

Jose Vieira, 39, a labourer, of Kimberry, Wick, was arrested in Clun Road, Wick, on 8 June and charged with driving with 78mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath in his system.

He pleaded guilty at Worthing Magistrates’ Court on 12 July and was disqualified from driving for 17 months. He was also ordered to pay a £120 fine, £85 costs and a £30 victim surcharge.

Dorota Lawrie, 42, unemployed, of West Way, Wick, was arrested in East Ham Road, Littlehampton, on 18 June and charged with driving with 52mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath in her system.

She pleaded guilty at Worthing Magistrates’ Court on 12 July and was disqualified from driving for 12 months. She was also ordered to pay a £120 fine, £85 costs and a £30 victim surcharge.

Pawel Szalkowski, 38, a factory worker, of Holly Court, Bognor Regis, was arrested in Chichester Road, Bognor Regis, on 18 June and charged with driving with 104mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath in his system.

He pleaded guilty at Worthing Magistrates’ Court on 12 July and was disqualified from driving for 23 months. He was also ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work in the next 12 months, and pay £85 costs and a £85 victim surcharge.

Richard Bird, 24, a sales representative, of Elizabeth Avenue, Bognor Regis, was arrested in Lion Road, Bognor Regis, on 19 June and charged with driving with 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath in his system.

He pleaded guilty at Worthing Magistrates’ Court on 12 July and was disqualified from driving for 18 months. He was also ordered to pay a £330 fine, £85 costs and a £33 victim surcharge.

People in Sussex can text officers on 65999 with the details of people they suspect of drink or drug driving or visit http://www.operationcrackdown.co.uk/

You can also contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 http://www.crimestoppers-uk.org

To keep up to date with officers looking for drink or drug drivers, follow #opdragonfly on Twitter.

Police say you should call 999 if you know someone is driving while over the limit or after taking drugs.

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