ALAN Carr’s husband has been jailed after drunkenly reversing into a police car.

Paul Drayton was “gambling with the lives of others” when he got behind the wheel while four times the legal limit, a court heard.

The 50-year-old was seen swerving in Broadbridge Heath, Horsham, as police pursued him near his home in October last year.

After the crash, police tested him for alcohol and he was found to be “off the scale”.

He was jailed for 14 weeks and banned from driving for three years.

Drayton, who is the husband of comedian Alan Carr, was told by the judge that he had been “dicing with death”.

Alan announced last week that the couple were separating after three years of marriage.

The Argus: Alan Carr’s husband Paul Drayton jailed for drunkenly reversing into police car Alan Carr’s husband Paul Drayton jailed for drunkenly reversing into police car

The pair had been in a relationship for 13 years, and a spokesman for Alan said they have made the decision “jointly and amicably”.

Dratyon appeared at Brighton Magistrates’ Court today after previously pleading guilty to driving a motor vehicle when above the alcohol limit.

The court heard how worried members of the public had called police on October 9 last year, when they saw Drayton driving shortly before 3pm.

Prosecutor Suzanne Soros said officers tracked him down and saw his vehicle “swerving from side to side”.

Suspecting he was over the alcohol limit, they signalled for Drayton to pull over and he complied.

“The defendant then reverses into the police vehicle”, Ms Soros said.

Drayton was then boxed in by other police vehicles to prevent him making a getaway.

A breath alcohol test returned a reading of 153 micrograms in 100 millilitres of breath – four times the legal limit.

John Dye, representing Drayton, said he had been suffering a “perfect storm in his life” when he got behind the wheel on that day.

He had been dealing with alcohol and mental health issues, had had to have a brain operation, and had been injured when falling from a horse, he told the court.

Mr Dye added: “And the final straw, as is now well documented, his private live as well.

“His partner of some 13 or 14 years – that relationship has broken down, partly due to the problems Drayton has with alcohol.”

He said Drayton is “absolutely petrified” of going to prison.

Sentencing him, District Judge Amanda Kelly acknowledged his alcohol issues and the effect his marriage breakdown had had on him.

But she continued: “You were dicing with death when you got behind the wheel in that state.

“Not only were you gambling with your own life but you were gambling with the lives of others.

“You could easily have killed or seriously injured someone else’s child, partner or friend.”

The judge said the breath alcohol test reading was “a reading so high it’s off the scale”.

Drayton and Alan were married by singer and former Hove resident Adele in her back garden in Los Angeles.