Lorry driver banned after drink driving in Marlborough and Swindon
He drove through a hedge into a crop field on the A346, narrowly missing several cars
Last updated 29th Sep 2021
A lorry driver has been banned from the roads for two years after the vehicle he was driving whilst drunk collided through a hedge into a crop field on the A346, narrowly missing several cars, Wiltshire Police have confirmed.
Joseph Ceasar, 39, of Merestone Road, Hereford, pleaded guilty to driving a vehicle over the specified alcohol limit at Swindon Magistrates’ Court last month.
He appeared again this week (27/09) for sentencing and was disqualified from driving for two years, given a community order, which includes an unpaid work requirement, as well as being ordered to pay court costs and surcharges.
Shortly before 11am on Sunday 22 August Wiltshire Police received reports from members of the public of a HGV swerving in the road between Marlborough and Swindon before crossing the central white line and leaving the road on the opposite side, going through a 7ft hedge and ending up in a crop field.
Police responded along with the ambulance service where it was judged that Ceaser, who was working at the time, was intoxicated.
A roadside test was carried out and Ceasar was arrested on suspicion of driving whilst over the prescribed alcohol limit.
He was taken to Gablecross Police Station where he provided a reading three times the legal limit.
PC Sam Bridgeman, of the Swindon Community Policing Team, said: "We continue to stress the dangers of drink driving and there is no excuse to get behind the wheel of a vehicle whilst under the influence of drink.
“In doing so, you have reduced capacity to control the vehicle you are driving, putting other road users at significant risk, especially when that vehicle is a HGV.
“It is only luck that Ceasar, who was highly intoxicated when we arrived at the scene of the collision, did not bring harm to anyone else on the road that day.
“We are thankful to the members of public who not only called us with their concerns regarding Ceasar’s driving but also stopped and ensured that Ceasar did not attempt to continue his journey.
“We will continue to show a zero tolerance policy to drink and drug driving and hope that Ceasar understands the severity of his actions.”