Drunk Driver Escapes Jail

A woman who was caught drink-driving twice in a month has been banned from the roads for three years.

Sally Crockford was first seen driving in her black Fiat Seicento on the wrong side of the A27 at Firle, Sussex and weaving across the carriageway as it headed westbound towards Brighton at 4.40pm on Saturday 1 November.

The 46-year-old did not seem to see the officers in a marked police car with its flashing lights and siren indicating for her to stop but eventually she turned off the A27 into Lewes Road at Brighton and was arrested.

She had 94 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of her breath when she was breathalysed – almost three times the 35 microgrammes legal limit – so was charged with drink-driving and released on bail to appear in court on 8 January.

But at 10.25am on Monday (29 December) officers were called after Crockford was seen slumped at the wheel of her car as it swerved across the carriageway in Kings Road, Brighton, forcing other drivers to take action to avoid her.

Officers found her getting out of her car in Rothbury Road, Hove. She was unsteady on her feet and slurring her words.

When she was breathalysed she had 135 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of her breath – almost four times the legal limit.

Remanded in custody

Crockford, of Hallyburton Road, Hove, was charged with drink-driving and remanded in custody to appear at Brighton Magistrates’ Court today (30 December).

She pleaded guilty to both incidents of drink-driving when she appeared in court and was banned from driving for three years.

She was also ordered to go on an alcohol treatment programme, to do 150 hours of community service and to pay £170 costs and a £60 victim surcharge.

Chief Inspector Phil Nicholas said:

Crockford has admitted that she needs help with her alcohol problem and hopefully the court order will mean that she gets that support.

Her driving put herself and other road users in real danger. It was only through luck that she did not cause a serious accident as she clearly was not in control of her car while she was driving.

Drink-driving is totally unacceptable and we will continue to look for and arrest anyone putting others at risk on the roads.

I would urge anyone who sees someone whose driving they are concerned about to contact us immediately so that we can act.”