Drink-drivers arrested on Christmas day named in court

A chef, a bar worker, and a security guard were among those named in court as they were convicted of drink-driving.

In December officers carried out enforcement patrols and checks as part of a national campaign called Operation Limit.

They made 233 arrests, and in keeping with those campaigns, those convicted and disqualified for their offences are being named to raise awareness of the issue and to provide a deterrent to other motorists from getting behind the wheel while intoxicated.

Meanwhile, our public campaign Drink Driving: Together We Can Stop It, continues to highlight the need for everyone to prevent, persuade and report drink-drivers to the police.

Among those to appear in court was Azad Hato, 46, a chef of Blackwell Close, St Leonards, who was stopped at 11.25pm on December 23 in Bexhill Road in St Leonards.

He was driving a Toyota while over the alcohol limit, and officers noticed his eyes were glazed, his speech was slurred, and he was unsteady on his feet.

Hato tested positive for 111 microgrammes (mcg) of alcohol per 100 millilitres (ml) of breath. The legal limit is 35mcg of alcohol per 100ml of breath.

At Hastings Magistrates’ Court on January 11 he admitted driving over the prescribed limit for alcohol and was disqualified from driving for two years.

He must also complete 180 hours of unpaid work with £85 court costs and a £114 victim surcharge.

Officers stopped Candice Cromack at 3.40am on December 24 when they saw she could not stay driving in a straight line on the A259 Marsh Road at Pevensey.

Officers found her driving a Nissan Qashqai in her pyjamas and bare feet, and she told them: “I need to get home to wrap my Christmas presents.”

She tested positive for 69mcg of alcohol per 100ml of breath.

At Hastings Magistrates’ Court, Cromack, 31, unemployed, or Murdock Mews, St Leonards, admitted drink-driving and was disqualified for three years. She must also pay a £120 fine with £85 costs and a £48 surcharge.

Jerry Kuncheria crashed his vehicle into parked cars in Priory Road, Hastings, at about 8.50am on Christmas Day (pictured).

The 40-year-old admitted to officers he had been to a Christmas party the night before, and was only a provisional licence holder for the Toyota he was driving.

He tested positive for 103mcg of alcohol per 100ml of breath.

At Hastings Magistrates’ Court, Kuncheria, a retail sales assistant of Priory Road, Hastings, admitted drink driving and driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence.

He was disqualified for two years and must complete 180 hours of unpaid work, with £85 costs and a £114 surcharge.

Meanwhile Ryan Kent made the decision to drive to a friend’s house at 10.15pm on Christmas day, but crashed his Citroen into a parked car, causing damage.

He later admitted to officers that he had been driving, and said he had felt “ok to drive” after consuming “four or five” shots with his family on Christmas day.

Kent, 20, a bar worker of Bulverhythe Road, St Leonards, tested positive for 63mcg of alcohol per 100ml of breath.

At Hastings Magistrates’ Court he admitted drink-driving and was disqualified for 20 months, fined £150, with £85 costs and a £60 surcharge.

Benjamin Smeaton was stopped by officers at about 9pm on December 12 at Richmond Place, Brighton.

He was driving a van with an expired provisional licence, and tested positive for 43mcg of alcohol per 100ml of breath.

At Brighton Magistrates’ Court on January 12, Smeaton, 33, unemployed of Dyke Road Drive, Brighton, admitted drink-driving, driving without valid insurance, and driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence.

He was disqualified for one year, with a £440 fine, £85 costs and £264 surcharge.

Ian Simpson was stopped by officers in Marine Drive, Rottingdean, on December 15 in a Vauxhall Corsa.

He tested positive for 86mcg of alcohol per 100ml of breath.

At Brighton Magistrates’ Court on January 12, Simpson, 48, a security guard, of Church Street, Littlehampton,  admitted drink-driving and was disqualified for 17 months, with a £120 fine, £85 costs and a £48 surcharge.

Daniel Blake also appeared in court after he attempted to flee from officers on foot in icy conditions on December 16.

They had followed his vehicle, a Vauxhall Vectra, which was seen driving erratically and in excess of the 30mph limit in Eastbourne.

He refused to provide a breath sample.

At Brighton Magistrates’ Court the 35-year-old roofer, of Weavers Close, Eastbourne, admitted failing to provide a specimen of breath for analysis.

He was disqualified for one year, with a £750 fine, £85 costs and a £300 surcharge.

Officers were called to the scene of an RTC involving a moped in Goldstone Road, Hove, on December 16.

Duruesh Kearns had collided with a vehicle, and tested positive for 74mcg of alcohol per 100ml of breath.

The 25-year-old social care assistant, of West End Way, Lancing, appeared before Brighton Magistrates’ Court on January 12 where he admitted drink-driving.

He was disqualified for 17 months, with a £250 fine, £85 costs and a £100 surcharge.

Deepak Kochar was stopped by police at a petrol station in Crawley where he was suspected of drink-driving at 1.55am on December 24.

He had gone to the shop to fetch milk, but had previously been out with friends to drink several shots of alcohol.

Kochar, 80, retired of Bryce Close, Horsham, tested positive for 65mcg of alcohol per 100ml of breath.

He appeared before Crawley Magistrates’ Court on January 16 and admitted drink-driving. He was disqualified for 17 months, with a £120 fine, £85 costs and a £48 surcharge.

Rodrigo Freitas de Paula crashed his Vauxhall Corsa in Bersted Street, Bognor, at 8.15pm on Christmas day. He tested positive for 87mcg of alcohol per 100ml of breath.

At Crawley Magistrates’ Court on January 18 the 38-year-old deliveryman, of Longacres Way, Chichester, admitted drink-driving.

He was disqualified for 22 months, with a £500 fine, £85 costs and a £200 surcharge.

Lewis Reed was stopped in Lottbridge Drove, Eastbourne, on December 29 in a Citroen.

He tested positive for 62mcg of alcohol per 100ml of breath.

At Hastings Magistrates’ Court on January 18 the 34-year-old carpenter of Hankham Hall Road, Westham, was disqualified for 17 months, with a £300 fine, £85 costs and a £120 surcharge.

Finally, Peter Froud was arrested after he had left his vehicle in the carriageway at 5.15pm on December 31.

He had earlier decided to leave work early at 2pm to go to the pub, and tested positive for 81mcg of alcohol per 100ml of breath.

Froud, 57, unemployed of Copthorne Bank, Copthorne, appeared at Crawley Magistrates’ Court on January 18 where he admitted drink-driving.

He was disqualified for 20 months, fined £120, with £85 costs and a £120 surcharge.

Roads Policing Unit Superintendent Rachel Glenton said: “Our officers are determined to catch offenders on our roads before they cause serious harm to themselves or other road users.

“We patrol the county’s roads 24/7, every day of the year, and these results show that while we can’t be everywhere, we could be anywhere.”

Sussex Police officers’ work to stop drink and drug drivers continues all year round, and officers will continue to be on patrol to stop selfish motorists who put the safety of themselves and other road users at risk.

The consequences of drink or drug-driving could include:

•           Killing or seriously injuring yourself or someone else;
•           A minimum 12-month ban;
•           An unlimited fine;
•           A possible prison sentence;
•           A criminal record, which could affect your current and future employment;
•           An increase in your car insurance costs;
•           Trouble travelling to countries such as the USA.