A MAN caught drink-driving for the second time this year has been jailed.
John Lyon was disqualified after he crashed into another vehicle while almost five times the legal limit in Littlehampton Road, Worthing, on 27 February.
He had 169mcg of alcohol per 100ml of breath in his system – the legal limit is 35.
In court he was also given an 18-week suspended sentence and issued with an electronic monitoring tag.
However, he showed a blatant disregard for the law and the judicial system when he was stopped again on the A24 at Dial Post on June 25 – just two days into Sussex Police’s summer crackdown on drink and drug-drivers.
At 6.55am, police followed Lyon’s Vauxhall Vivaro on the northbound carriageway after it he reported by a member of the public for driving erratically.
He failed a roadside breath test, and was subsequently arrested and charged with driving with 89mcg of alcohol per 100ml of breath in his system, driving while disqualified, driving with no insurance and breaching a suspended sentence.
Lyon, 53, a bricklayer, of Leeward Road, Worthing, was remanded in custody and at Brighton Magistrates’ Court the next day, he was sentenced to a total of 24 weeks in jail.
He was also disqualified from driving for five years from the date of his release, and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £115 victim surcharge.
Sussex and Surrey Police’s dedicated summer campaign ran from June 24 to July 7.
But police say officers will still respond to reports of drink and drug-drivers 365 days a year.
Details of people convicted as part of the campaign will be published on the force’s website.
Punishments for driving under the influence of drink or drugs could include a minimum 12-month ban, an unlimited fine, a possible prison sentence.
A criminal record for drink driving could affect your current and future employment, cause an increase in your car insurance and make it difficult to travel to countries such as the USA.
People in Sussex can text officers on 65999 with the details of people they suspect of drink or drug-driving, or visit the Operation Crackdown website.
You can also contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or report it online.
If you know someone is driving while over the limit or after taking drugs, call 999.
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