A driver who drank half a bottle of whisky before his flight home to the UK, because of his fear of flying, has been disqualified.
Graham Clark, 40, collected his car from Gatwick Airport on May 14 and drove to Selsey before continuing his journey home to Portslade.
He was reported for driving erratically on the A27 with a blown-out tyre.
On being breathalysed, police found him to be driving with 83 microgrammes (mcg) of alcohol per 100 millilitres (ml) of breath. The legal limit is 35mcg of alcohol per 100ml of breath.
Despite being more than twice the legal drink-drive limit, he later told police in custody: “You guys are treating me like I’m a criminal.”
At Worthing Magistrates’ Court on July 25, Clark admitted dangerous driving, and driving over the prescribed limit for alcohol.
Following the case, PC Tom Bezants from the Roads Policing Unit said:
“Clark put his own safety and the safety of other road users at risk.
“Witnesses described seeing him driving with a glazed look on his face, completely unaware of his surroundings, as he drove with a blown-out tyre for several miles on the busy A27.
“He was seen swerving across the road, narrowly avoiding a collision with the central reservation.
“It should have been clear to him that he was in no fit state to drive a car.”
Clark, an engineer, of Abinger Road, Portslade, was sentenced to 200 hours of unpaid work as part of a 12-week suspended prison sentence. He must also complete five rehabilitation activity requirement sessions (RAR) and pay £85 costs and a £128 victim surcharge.
He was disqualified from driving for two years and must take an extended retest before he is allowed to get his licence back.
This month, Sussex Police launched its annual summer crackdown on drink and drug-driving, and is sharing reports and convictions of drink and drug-drivers as a deterrent.
PC Bezants added:
“Drink and drug-driving is one of the fatal five factors that lead to people being killed or injured on our roads.
“Clark is very lucky that he did not cause a serious collision because of his driving. This case shows how serious this offence is and it demonstrates our determination to catch offenders who pose a risk to people’s safety.
“We are pleased that a dangerous driver has been taken off our roads.”
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