Ban for drink-driver who crashed into parked cars in Littlehampton
He was one of more than 200 arrested during a Christmas crackdown by Sussex Police
A chef who crashed into three parked cars in Littlehampton while more than twice the drink-drive limit has been disqualified from driving.
Toby Poole was detained after police were called to the incident in Beach Road at about 2am on December 20th.
The 27-year-old, of Bushy Avenue in Rustington, identified himself as the driver and went on to fail a roadside breath test.
He was charged with driving with 91mcg of alcohol per 100ml of breath in his system. The legal limit is 35mcg.
Poole appeared before Crawley Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday (January 12th), where he was sentenced to a 12-month community order, requiring him to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work, and disqualified from driving for 40 months.
He was also ordered to pay £85 costs and a £95 victim surcharge.
He was among 212 arrests made in Sussex during Sussex Police's annual Christmas crackdown on drink and drug-drivers, which ran from December 1st to January 1st.
Of those arrested, nine have since been convicted in court. The remaining have either been charged, released under investigation or released without charge.
Here are the latest convictions in West Sussex:
- Karlis Buks, 26, a shop employee, of East Park, Crawley, was arrested in Beehive Ring Road, Gatwick Airport, on December 8th and charged with driving with 103mcg of alcohol per 100ml of breath in his system.
At Crawley Magistrates’ Court on January 8th, he was disqualified from driving for 24 months. He was also ordered to pay a £500 fine, £85 costs and a £50 victim surcharge.
Thea Harrison-Roberts, 23, a shop employee, of Leylands Road, Burgess Hill, was arrested in Butlers Green Road, Haywards Heath, on December 11th and charged with driving with 45mcg of alcohol per 100ml of breath in her system.
At Crawley Magistrates’ Court on January 11th, she was disqualified from driving for 14 months. She was also ordered to pay a £120 fine, £85 costs and a £34 victim surcharge.
Rebecca Sorrell, 27, a child carer, of London Road, East Grinstead, was arrested in Queens Road, East Grinstead, on December 11th and charged with driving with 72mcg of alcohol per 100ml of breath in her system.
At Crawley Magistrates’ Court on January 11th, she was disqualified from driving for 18 months. She was also ordered to pay a £120 fine, £85 costs and a £34 victim surcharge.
Carla Rae, 30, a child carer, of Broadmead, Horley, Surrey, was arrested in Fry Close, Crawey, on December 13th and charged with driving with 51mcg of alcohol per 100ml of breath in her system.
At Crawley Magistrates’ Court on January 11th, she was disqualified from driving for 14 months. She was also ordered to pay a £346 fine, £85 costs and a £34 victim surcharge.
Joao De Sousa, 51, a cleaner, of Crowberry Close, Crawley, was arrested in Balcombe Road, Crawley, on December 15th and charged with driving with 51mcg of alcohol per 100ml of breath in his system.
At Crawley Magistrates’ Court on January 12th, he was disqualified from driving for 14 months. He was also ordered to pay a £290 fine, £85 costs and a £34 victim surcharge.
Linda Heath, 55, an accountant, of The Boulevard, Worthing, was arrested on the A24 at Worthing on December 19th and charged with driving with 59mcg of alcohol per 100ml of breath in her system.
At Crawley Magistrates’ Court on January 11th, she was disqualified from driving for 16 months. She was also ordered to pay a £600 fine, £85 costs and a £60 victim surcharge.
Alister Kafumbe, 22, army personnel, from Crawley, was arrested in Crawley on December 19th and charged with driving with 41mcg of alcohol per 100ml of breath in his system.
At Crawley Magistrates’ Court on January 11th, he was disqualified from driving for 12 months. He was also ordered to pay a £230 fine, £85 costs and a £34 victim surcharge.
If you’re prepared to drive under the influence of drink or drugs, prepare to face the consequences. These could include the following:
Killing or seriously injuring yourself or someone else;
A minimum 12 month ban;
An unlimited fine;
A possible prison sentence;
A criminal record, which could affect your current and future employment;
An increase in your car insurance costs;
Trouble travelling 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.
They 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.