Alan Carr’s husband Paul Drayton walks free after winning drink-drive sentence appeal

Paul Drayton was jailed earlier this week after reversing a 4×4 into a police car with an alcohol test reading four times the legal limit.

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

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

But on Friday, a judge told him he should be given the opportunity to turn his life around and that his sentence would be suspended.

Alan Carr’s husband Paul Drayton walks free after winning sentence appeal

Drayton, who cares for rescue horses, broke down in tears in the dock as he was told his liberty was being restored.

It came after he recently announced his split from comedian Alan Carr, his partner of 13 years, and also underwent brain surgery two weeks ago.

Drayton had been handed a 14-week jail sentence and banned from driving for three years after pleading guilty to a single count of driving a motor vehicle when alcohol level above limit.

John Dye, representing Drayton, told the court: “This is a very serious drink-driving offence. It crosses the custody threshold. I think to say anything other than that would be absurd.”

But he emphasised Drayton’s previous good character, mental health struggles and problems with alcohol.

“The two nights in custody have been extremely difficult for someone who has poor mental health,” he added.

Alan Carr’s husband Paul Drayton walks free after winning sentence appeal

Judge Shani Barnes said the two nights Drayton spent in jail were likely “harrowing”.

After briefly retiring to discuss the case with her magistrate colleague, she returned to the courtroom and told Drayton that had led an “exemplary life”.

Addressing the question of whether the sentence could be suspended, she said the answer was “quite clearly, yes”.

“Yes, of course it is right that we give you an opportunity to make amends and turn your life around.”

She told him he would receive a 12-week prison sentence, suspended for 24 months.

At Brighton Magistrates’ Court earlier this week, 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.

Mr Dye said: “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.

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