Driver who drank entire bottle of vodka before West Sussex crash banned
He told officers he 'felt fine to drive' despite being four times the limit
A motorist who crashed his car in West Sussex while four times the alcohol limit has been given a driving ban - after telling police he 'felt fine to drive'.
Lincoln Simmons was driving a blue Volkswagen Passat on the A23 London Road in Crawley, when he collided a black Renault Clio at around 1pm on December 2nd.
The impact caused the Clio to mount the roundabout and crash through road signage.
The driver – a 53-year-old woman from Haywards Heath – sustained significant bruising.
The Passat failed to stop at the scene and was located a short distance away, near Gatwick Airport.
Simmons failed a roadside breath test, and was subsequently arrested and charged with failing to stop after a road traffic collision, and driving with 139mcg of alcohol per 100ml of breath in his system. The legal limit is 35mcg.
In police interview, he stated he had consumed a litre of vodka the previous evening and a small bottle of whiskey prior to the crash, but claimed he is “used to drinking” so it “takes a lot of alcohol to feel the effects”.
The 48-year-old, who is unemployed, of Galahad Road in Crawley, pleaded guilty to both offences and was disqualified from driving for 32 months when he appeared before Crawley Magistrates’ Court on February 11th.
He was also given a 12-month community order requiring him to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work, and must pay £85 costs and a £95 victim surcharge.
Chief Inspector Michael Hodder, of the Surrey and Sussex Roads Policing Unit, said:
“One of the most common excuses we hear from drink-drivers is that they “felt fine” to drive. But even a small amount of alcohol has the ability to impair your judgement and reaction time.
“Feeling fine is not a good judgement of your ability to drive. If you drink and drive you are committing an offence which carries with it a risk of serious injury or death to yourself or someone else.
“The bottom line is there is no excuse to drive under the influence of drink or drugs.
“Our priority is to keep everyone safe on our roads, and we will continue to crack down on anyone who compromises this.”
Simmons' arrest was one of 212 made in Sussex during the force's annual Christmas crackdown on drink and drug-drivers, which ran from 1 December 2020 to 1 January 2021.
Of those arrested, 34 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:
Wajeeh Shah, 32, a manager, of Dowdeswell Close, Wandworth, London, was arrested in Coachmans Drive, Crawley, on 3 December and charged with driving with 139mcg of alcohol per 100ml of breath in his system.
At Crawley Magistrates’ Court on 10 February, he was sentenced to 12 weeks’ imprisonment, suspended for 12 months, and ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work. He was also disqualified from driving for 33 months and must pay £85 costs.
Jurus Jerofejevs, 37, a labourer, of Highwood Gardens, Ilford, was arrested in Offington Avenue, Worthing, on 4 December and charged with driving with 84mcg of alcohol per 100ml of breath in his system.
At Crawley Magistrates’ Court on 8 January, he was disqualified from driving for 21 months. He was also ordered to pay a £440 fine, £85 costs and a £44 victim surcharge.
Tyler Madden, 23, a carpenter, of The Steyne, Bognor Regis, was arrested in Marine Drive West, Bognor Regis, on 11 December, and charged with failing to provide a specimen of blood when suspected of drink or drug-driving.
At Worthing Magistrates’ Court on 9 February, he was disqualified from driving for 18 months and given a community order requiring him to carry out 80 hours of unpaid work in the next 12 months. He was also ordered to pay £85 costs and a £95 victim surcharge.
Sophie Wise, 20, unemployed, of Hinchcliff Drive, Wick, was arrested in on the A259 at Littlehampton on 17 December and charged with failing to provide a specimen of blood when suspected of drink or drug-driving.
At Crawley Magistrates’ Court on 10 February, she was disqualified from driving for 12 months. She was also ordered to pay a £120 fine, £85 costs and a £34 victim surcharge.
Jack Veaney, 25, a surveyor, of Cuckmere Crescent, Crawley, was arrested in Worth Park Avenue, Crawley, on 22 December and charged with driving with 59mcg of alcohol per 100ml of breath in his system.
At Crawley Magistrates’ Court on 27 January, he was disqualified from driving for 12 months. He was also ordered to pay a £120 fine, £85 costs and a £34 victim surcharge.
Thomas Tuck, 21, a publican, of The Beckers, Crawley Down, was arrested in Sandy Lane, Crawley Down, on 25 December and charged with driving with 109mcg of alcohol per 100ml of breath in his system.
At Crawley Magistrates’ Court on 14 January, he was disqualified from driving for 24 months and given a community order requiring him to carry out 90 hours of unpaid work in the next 12 months. He was also ordered to pay £85 costs and a £95 victim surcharge.
Jak Priest, 32, unemployed, of Springfield Road, Crawley, was arrested in Iveagh Close, Crawley, on 27 December and charged with driving with 96mcg of alcohol per 100ml of breath in his system.
At Crawley Magistrates’ Court on 14 January, he was disqualified from driving for 24 months and given a community order requiring him to carry out 80 hours of unpaid work in the next 12 months. He was also ordered to pay £85 costs and a £95 victim surcharge.
Dragos Goras, 28, a driver, of no fixed address, was arrested in Faygate Lane, Horsham, on 1 January and charged with driving with 110mcg of alcohol per 100ml of breath in his system.
At Crawley Magistrates’ Court on 20 January, he was disqualified from driving for 26 months and given a community order requiring him to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work. He was also ordered to pay £85 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 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.