A DRINK-DRIVER who crashed his car into a McDonald's restaurant has been banned from driving for two years.

Taylor Steel, 19, from Fairfield Way in Ashington, was driving a Volkswagen Gold which ploughed into the fast food chain at Buck Barn services on the A25 near Horsham at around 10.25pm on November 26 last year.

He failed a roadside breath test for alcohol, was subsequently arrested and charged with driving with 101mcg of alcohol per 100ml of breath in his system - almost three times the legal limit of 35mcg.

In a police interview, Steel admitted he had been drinking beer at a pub before the incident occurred, and said he did not know why he drove the car or where he intended to go.

He pleaded guilty at Crawley Magistrates' Court on January 25 and was disqualified from driving for 24 months.

He was also sentenced to a 12-month community order, requiring him to carry out 80 hours of unpaid work, and must pay £85 in costs and a £95 victim surcharge.

People in Sussex can text officers on 65999 with the details of people they suspect of drink or drug-driving, or visit their Operation Crackdown website.

Driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs can lead to an unlimited fine, a possible prison sentence, a criminal record which could affect current and future employment, as well as killing or seriously injuring yourself or other people.

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