A lorry driver has been banned from the roads for two years after the vehicle he was driving whilst drunk collided through a hedge into a crop field on the A346, narrowly missing several cars.
Joseph Ceasar, 39, of Merestone Road, Hereford, pleaded guilty to driving a vehicle over the specified alcohol limit at Swindon Magistrates’ Court last month.
He appeared at court again this week and was disqualified from driving for two years, given a community order, which includes an unpaid work requirement, as well as being ordered to pay court costs and surcharges.
Shortly before 11am on Sunday 22nd August police were called to reports of a HGV swerving in the road between Marlborough and Swindon before crossing the central white line and leaving the road on the opposite side, going through a 7ft hedge and ending up in a crop field.
A roadside test was carried out and Mr Ceasar was arrested on suspicion of driving whilst over the prescribed alcohol limit.
He was taken to Gablecross Police Station where he provided a reading three times the legal limit.
PC Sam Bridgeman, of the Swindon Community Policing Team, said: “We continue to stress the dangers of drink driving and there is no excuse to get behind the wheel of a vehicle whilst under the influence of drink.
“In doing so, you have reduced capacity to control the vehicle you are driving, putting other road users at significant risk, especially when that vehicle is a HGV.
“It is only luck that Ceasar, who was highly intoxicated when we arrived at the scene of the collision, did not bring harm to anyone else on the road that day.
“We are thankful to the members of public who not only called us with their concerns regarding Ceasar’s driving but also stopped and ensured that Ceasar did not attempt to continue his journey.
“We will continue to show a zero tolerance policy to drink and drug driving and hope that Ceasar understands the severity of his actions.”
If you are suspicious of someone driving dangerously or under the influence of alcohol or drugs, then please call police on 101 and give as much information as possible, including the driver’s details or description and their car registration.
If you believe that a crime is being committed and somebody is already behind the wheel then please call 999.
