A heavily intoxicated driver has been banned from the roads for more than two years after a vigilant member of the public alerted police to concerns in Swindon.
Wiltshire Police were called shortly after 10am on Saturday 17 January following reports that a man had been drinking at the Dockle Farmhouse pub and was about to drive away in a Volkswagen Transporter van.
Officers from the Roads Policing Unit attended and soon spotted the vehicle being driven onto Bridge End Road, where it was stopped immediately.
The driver, Anthony Richardson, 42, of Holborn Road, Sunderland, was breathalysed at the roadside and recorded a reading of 126 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath. A further test carried out in custody showed a reading of 120. The legal limit is 35.
Police said Richardson was around three and a half times over the limit.
He was remanded in custody and appeared at Swindon Magistrates’ Court on Monday 19 January, where he pleaded guilty to drink driving.
Richardson was handed a 29-month driving ban and ordered to pay a £3,692 fine, along with a £1,477 surcharge and £85 in CPS costs.
PC Ben Greening said the driver posed a serious risk to others on the road.
“Richardson was heavily intoxicated when he was stopped and smelt strongly of alcohol,” he said. “He was in no fit state to be driving and presented a real danger to other road users, particularly on a busy Saturday morning.
“I’d like to thank the member of the public who raised concerns about his fitness to drive. Their actions may well have prevented a collision that could have resulted in someone being seriously injured or worse.”
Wiltshire Police continue to urge anyone who suspects a driver may be under the influence of alcohol or drugs to report their concerns.
