More drink-drivers convicted and named in Sussex Police winter crackdown

A computer engineer, a care assistant, and a carpenter were among the latest motorists to be convicted for drink-driving in Sussex during a winter crackdown.

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

A total of 233 motorists were arrested during the month-long campaign.

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.

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.”

Among those to appear in court was Joshua Taylor, who admitted he had been to the pub and had three pints with his friends before getting behind the wheel of a Porsche Cayman in Horsham on December 9.

The 24-year-old computer engineer gave a positive test for 51 microgrammes (mcg) of alcohol per 100 millilitres (ml) of breath. The legal limit is 35mcg of alcohol per 100ml of breath.

At Crawley Magistrates’ Court on January 4, he admitted driving over the prescribed limit for alcohol, and was disqualified from driving for one year.

The court ordered Taylor, of Bishopric, Horsham, to pay a £578 fine, £85 costs, and a £230 victim surcharge.

Aafke Bauer was stopped by officers from the Specialist Enforcement Unit while driving in East Grinstead on December 8, less than three weeks after she had been stopped for drink-driving on November 18.

She was already under a temporary disqualification from driving when she was stopped in a Renault Clio following a collision with parked cars in Morton Road at 7.10pm.

In custody, she failed to provide a specimen of breath for analysis when suspected of drink-driving.

Crawley Magistrates’ Court heard how Bauer, 38, unemployed of Harwood Lane, East Grinstead, was stopped in London Road in the town on November 18 at 11.15pm.

She was seen driving erratically, and then had a glazed expression when she spoke to officers. She gave a positive breath test for 109mcg of alcohol per 100ml of breath.

In court on January 4, she admitted driving while disqualified,, failing to provide, driving without valid insurance, and driving over the legal alcohol limit.

Bauer was disqualified for three years and was given a 12-week suspended prison sentence. She must complete alcohol dependency treatment for six months, and ten rehabilitation activity requirement (RAR) sessions.

Thomas Gander crashed his car into street furniture in Henfield Road, Albourne, then left the scene. Officers found the 30-year-old at his home address.

He tested positive for 95mcg of alcohol per 100ml of breath.

At Brighton Magistrates’ Court on January 5, Gander, 30, a builder of Barn Close, Albourne, admitted failing to stop after a road traffic accident and driving over the alcohol limit.

He was disqualified for two years and must pay a £300 fine, £85 costs and a £120 surcharge.

Officers stopped a vehicle in Burgess Hill in freezing conditions  when they saw the windscreen was still frosted over.

When the officers spoke to the driver, James Church, they could smell alcohol on his breath.

He tested positive for 52mcg of alcohol per 100ml of breath after being stopped in Queen Elizabeth Avenue at 9.30am.

At Brighton Magistrates’ Court on January 5, Church, 25, unemployed of Crescent Road, Burgess Hill, admitted driving over the alcohol limit and was disqualified for 15 months. He was ordered to pay a £400 fine, £85 costs and a £160 surcharge.

Security staff in Hastings alerted police to a suspected drink-driver who drove off in a Volkswagen from Robertson Street at 1.15am on December 11.

Jerry Burke-Bowen tested positive for 91mcg of alcohol per 100ml of breath.

At Brighton Magistrates’ Court on January 5, Burke-Bowen, 34, a social care assistant of Byfields Croft, Bexhill, admitted driving over the alcohol limit.

She was disqualified for three years and was ordered to complete 120 hours of unpaid work.

The court also ordered her to pay £85 costs and a £114 surcharge.

Van driver Jonathan Cromwell thought he could run away from officers who had seen him driving to his home at excess speed in Hove.

The 38-year-old turned into Portland Road at speed, then tried to run into his address to escape officers. He tested positive for 60mcg of alcohol per 100ml of breath.

At Brighton Magistrates’ Court on January 5, Cromwell, a carpenter of Milnthorpe Road, Hove, admitted driving over the alcohol limit.

He was disqualified for 17 months and was ordered to pay a £400 fine, £85 costs, and a £160 surcharge.

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.

In keeping with previous campaigns, Sussex Police is naming drink and drug-drivers who have been convicted to raise awareness of the offences and act as a deterrent to others.

You can read about other motorists convicted in the campaign on the Sussex Police website.

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.