Man jailed for 14 months for drink driving
08 February 2013
A man has been jailed for 14 months and banned from driving
for three years after he was stopped by officers from the Roads
Policing Unit who were carrying out routine drink drive
checks.
Police attempted to stop Matthew Quant, 30, on the A24 at
Buckbarn, near Horsham, on 21 December, after they suspected him of
driving whilst over the limit. But instead of pulling over, he
dangerously drove a BMW saloon to get away from the police
vehicle.
Officers followed Quant, from Crowhurst Crescent in
Storrington, in a controlled pursuit until it was brought to a halt
near Adversane Lane, some 30 minutes later.
He was arrested and subsequently charged with driving with
excess alcohol, dangerous driving, using a vehicle with no
insurance and failing to stop for police.
Appearing at Hove Crown Court on Friday (8 February) Quant
pleaded guilty to all offences. Due to the manner of driving that
put himself, his passengers and other road users at risk, he was
banned for three years for dangerous driving, banned for three
years for driving with excess alcohol, ordered to take an extended
driving test and sentenced to a 14 month custodial sentence.
PC John Lawson, from the Sussex Police Roads Policing Unit,
said: "This driver was willing to put himself and others at risk by
drinking and driving, then he deliberately drove dangerously in
order to try and escape.
"This sentence reflects the severity of the
offences Quant committed. The Sussex Police Roads Policing
Unit works tirelessly together with its partners to promote
safe driving and educate drivers, but this sentence shows that
where people are willing to put other road users at risk, there
will be serious consequences."
Anyone witnessing dangerous or anti-social driving can report
it to police via the Operation Crackdown website at
www.operationcrackdown.org
or calling police on 101.
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