A DRIVER who drank half a bottle of whisky because of his fear of flying has been disqualified after swerving across the A27.

Graham Clark returned to the UK from a holiday abroad and collected his car from Gatwick Airport on May 14.

The 40-year-old first drove to Selsey, and then drove from Selsey towards his Portslade home.

However, other road users saw him driving erratically on the A27, including driving with a blown-out tyre for ten miles.

He was found to be more than twice the legal drink-drive limit.

Clark, of Abinger Road in Portslade, later told police in custody: “You guys are treating me like I’m a criminal.”

At Worthing Magistrates’ Court on July 25, he admitted dangerous driving and driving over the legal limit for alcohol.

Clark was sentenced to 200 hours of unpaid work as part of a 12-week suspended prison sentence. He must also complete five rehabilitation activity requirement sessions and pay £85 in costs and a £128 victim surcharge.

He was disqualified from driving for two years and must take an extended retest before he is allowed to get his licence back.

PC Tom Bezants from the Roads Policing Unit said: “Clark put his own safety and the safety of other road users at risk.

“Witnesses described seeing him driving with a glazed look on his face, completely unaware of his surroundings, as he drove with a blown-out tyre for several miles on the busy A27.

“He was seen swerving across the road, narrowly avoiding a collision with the central reservation.

“It should have been clear to him that he was in no fit state to drive a car.”

Sussex Police launched a summer crackdown on drink and drug driving earlier this month.

PC Bezants said: “Clark is very lucky that he did not cause a serious collision because of his driving.

“This case shows how serious this offence is and it demonstrates our determination to catch offenders who pose a risk to people’s safety.

“We are pleased that a dangerous driver has been taken off our roads.”