Lorry driver sentenced for dangerous driving while over the limit

A lorry driver who crashed his vehicle while over the alcohol limit has been sentenced.

Janis Rimovics, 50, was driving a 44-tonne articulated lorry when he struck a parked vehicle in Church Lane, Pagham.

He then drove into a nearby holiday park which was busy with families and children on a busy Saturday evening during the summer holidays.

Despite there being pedestrians, Rimovics continued to attempt to manoeuvre the lorry before members of the public persuaded him to give up.

Rimovis smelt of alcohol and the police were called. When officers arrived, they found Rimovics too intoxicated to stand.

Rimovics was arrested and charged with dangerous driving and driving over the alcohol limit.

At Portsmouth Crown Court on October 18, he was sentenced to four months in prison. He was disqualified from driving for 18 months.

The court heard how Rimovics, of Station Estate Road, Feltham, struck a parked car at about 8.45pm on August 25.

He then drove off at speed into a holiday park. He tried to reverse his vehicle out of a dead end but was unable to complete the manoeuvre, and then fell asleep in his cab.

Officers took him to custody, where he provided a breath sample.

Rimovics provided breath alcohol reading of 128 microgrammes (μg) of alcohol per 100 millilitres (ml) of breath. The legal limit is 35μg of alcohol per 100ml of breath.

Officers found empty vodka bottles inside the cab of his HGV.

Speaking after the case, Acting Sergeant Steven Lambeth from the Roads Policing Unit said: “Rimovics was in charge of a large lorry while more than three times the legal alcohol limit.

“He was in no fit state to drive and was barely able to stand, let alone drive a vehicle, when he arrived in custody.

“Drink-driving is one of the main reasons why people are killed or seriously injured on our roads.

“Rimovics posed a serious risk not only to himself, but to every other road user, he is lucky not to have caused serious harm that night.

“We are pleased that a dangerous driver has been taken off our roads.”