Dozens more motorists banned for drink and drug-driving offences
Operation Dragonfly
A drink-driver who took out a concrete bollard on Christmas Eve, causing extensive damage to her car, is among the latest motorists to be convicted as part of Operation Dragonfly.
At 5.10pm on 24 December, police were called by a member of public to reports of a single vehicle collision in Sea Lane, Rustington.
Shortly afterwards, the same vehicle – a black Ford Fiesta – entered Aldwick Close in Rustington, where it was seen by police to mount a grass verge before pulling onto a driveway.
The driver, Helen Faulkner-Edwards, was spoken to by officers, who detected a strong smell of alcohol. She became argumentative and aggressive, and was restrained and arrested.
The 49-year-old family careworker, of Aldwick Close in Rustington, was charged with driving with 104mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath in her system, resisting police in the execution of their duty and failing to stop after a road traffic collision.
She pleaded guilty at Worthing Magistrates’ Court on 14 January, where she was disqualified from driving for 24 months. She was also sentenced to a six-month conditional discharge and a 12-week curfew, meaning she must wear an electronic tag which requires her to reside at her home address between 7pm and 7am daily.
In addition, she was ordered to pay £40 costs and a £60 victim surcharge.
A number of other motorists have also been banned after being convicted of offences as part of Surrey and Sussex Police’s Christmas 2015 crackdown on drink and drug-drivers.
Aaron Pratt, 33, a builder, of no fixed address, was arrested in Caves Road, St Leonards, on 11 December, and charged with failing to provide a specimen for analysis, driving with no licence, driving with no insurance, failing to stop after a road traffic collision and obstructing police in the execution of their duty.
He pleaded guilty at Hastings Magistrates’ Court on 13 January and was disqualified from driving for 20 months. He was also ordered to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work, and pay £85 costs and a £60 victim surcharge.
Amy Downes, 25, a sales assistant, of Highwood Crescent in Horsham, was arrested in Worthing Road, Southwater, on 12 December and charged with driving with 78mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath in her system.
She pleaded guilty at Crawley Magistrates’ Court on 15 January and was disqualified from driving for 12 months. She was also ordered to pay a £180 fine, £85 costs and a £20 victim surcharge.
Juliet Adsett. 34, a youth worker, of Field End in Storrington, was arrested on the A27 at Beddingham on 12 December and charged with driving with 96mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath in her system.
She pleaded guilty at Brighton Magistrates’ Court on 11 January and was disqualified from driving for 18 months. She was also ordered to pay a £350 fine, £85 costs and a £35 victim surcharge.
Richard Willard, 31, a builder, of Pound Lane in Upper Beeding, was arrested in Goddards Green, Hassocks, on 17 December and charged with driving with 72mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath in his system.
He pleaded guilty at Crawley Magistrates’ Court on 11 January and was disqualified from driving for 22 months. He was also ordered to pay a £120 fine, £85 costs and a £20 victim surcharge.
Kieron Lawler, 35, a technician, of Bretton in Burgess Hill, was arrested in Butlers Green Road, Haywards Heath, on 18 December and charged with driving with 52mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath in his system.
He pleaded guilty at Crawley Magistrates’ Court on 11 January and was disqualified from driving for 12 months. He was also ordered to pay a £595 fine, £85 costs and a £60 victim surcharge.
Joshua North, 23, a delivery man, of Jewel Walk in Crawley, was arrested in Poynings Road, Crawley, on 18 December, and charged with driving with 46mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath in his system and obstructing police in the execution of their duty.
He pleaded guilty at Crawley Magistrates’ Court on 12 January and was disqualified from driving for 12 months. He was also ordered to pay a £280 fine and a £20 victim surcharge.
Dominic Malins, 22, a tree surgeon, of Blount Avenue in East Grinstead, was arrested in Maypole Road, East Grinstead, on 20 December and charged with driving with 76mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath in his system.
He pleaded guilty at Crawley Magistrates’ Court on 13 January and was disqualified from driving for 20 months. He was also ordered to pay a £140 fine, £85 costs and a £20 victim surcharge.
Thomas Duncan, 55, an antiques dealer, of Boxgrove in Chichester, was arrested in Lyminster Road, Littlehampton, on 20 December and charged with driving with 65mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath in his system.
He pleaded guilty at Worthing Magistrates’ Court on 14 January and was disqualified from driving for 17 months. He was also ordered to pay a £175 fine, £85 costs and a £20 victim surcharge.
Aleksiev Zhivkov, 35, a car valeter, of Knole Grove in East Grinstead, was arrested in Sussex Road, Haywards Heath on 20 December, and charged with driving with 54mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath in his system, driving with no licence and driving with no insurance.
He pleaded guilty at Crawley Magistrates’ Court on 28 January and was disqualified from driving for 15 months. He was also ordered to pay a total of £300 in fines, £85 costs and a £20 victim surcharge.
Antonio Souza, 43, a delivery man, of Erroll Road in Hove, was arrested in Kingsway, Hove, on 25 December and charged with driving with 97mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath in his system.
He pleaded guilty at Brighton Magistrates’ Court on 18 January and was disqualified from driving for 25 months. He was also ordered to pay a £747 fine, £85 costs and a £75 victim surcharge. In addition, he pleaded guilty to failing to surrender to custody, for which he was fined £93.
Luke Rudland, 28, a clerk, of Robinson Close in Lancing, was arrested in Brighton Road, Lancing, on 25 December and charged with driving with 75mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath in his system.
He pleaded guilty at Worthing Magistrates’ Court on 14 January and was disqualified from driving for 18 months. He was also ordered to pay a total of £600 in fines, £85 costs and a £30 victim surcharge.
Joshua Taylor, 25, a manager, of Portland Road in Hove, was arrested in Stoneleigh Avenue, Brighton, on 25 December and charged with driving with 62mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath in his system.
He pleaded guilty at Brighton Magistrates’ Court on 11 January and was disqualified from driving for 17 months. He was also ordered to pay a £120 fine, £85 costs and a £20 victim surcharge. A charge of no insurance was dismissed due to insufficient evidence.
James Rutherford, 38, a carpenter, of Charlwood Street in Bognor Regis, was arrested in Bridge Road, Littlehampton, on 25 December and charged with driving with 113mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath in his system.
He pleaded guilty at Worthing Magistrates’ Court on 14 January and was disqualified from driving for 24 months. He was also ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work within the next 12 months, and pay £85 costs and a £60 victim surcharge.
John Tovey, 64, retired, of Brodrick Road in Eastbourne, was arrested in Lottbridge Drove, Eastbourne, on 26 December and charged with driving with 62mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath in his system.
He pleaded guilty at Hastings Magistrates’ Court on 13 January and was disqualified from driving for 17 months. He was also ordered to pay a £600 fine, £85 costs and a £60 victim surcharge.
Sarah Richards, 34, unemployed, of Melrose Close in Brighton, was arrested in Union Road, Brighton, on 26 December and charged with driving with 57mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath in her system.
She pleaded guilty at Brighton Magistrates’ Court on 11 January and was disqualified from driving for 12 months. She was also ordered to pay a £120 fine, £85 costs and a £20 victim surcharge.
Cornell Calin, 39, an assembler, of Hayling Island in Hampshire, was arrested on the A259 at Chichester on 27 December and charged with driving with 63mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath in his system.
He pleaded guilty at Worthing Magistrates’ Court on 19 January and was disqualified from driving for 18 months. He was also ordered to pay a £200 fine, £85 costs and a £20 victim surcharge.
Susan Burgess, 54, a receptionist, of Lake Road in Chichester, was arrested on the A27 at Chichester on 27 December and charged with driving with 44mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath in her system.
She pleaded guilty at Worthing Magistrates’ Court on 19 January and was disqualified from driving for 12 months. She was also ordered to pay a £260 fine, £85 costs and a £26 victim surcharge.
Stephen Mather, 35, a security controller, of Claydon in Buckinghamshire, was arrested in Brittens Lane, Eartham on 27 December and charged with driving with 119mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath in his system.
He pleaded guilty at Worthing Magistrates’ Court on 19 January and was disqualified from driving for 28 months. He was also sentenced to a 12-month community order, and ordered to pay £85 costs.
Sara Hill, 53, unemployed, of Mill Road in West Chiltington, was arrested in East Street, West Chiltington on 27 December and charged with driving with 65mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath in her system.
She pleaded guilty at Worthing Magistrates’ Court on 21 January and was disqualified from driving for 46 months. She was also sentenced to a nine-month community order and ordered to pay a £60 victim surcharge.
Ellis Demonte, 23, unemployed, of Dunnings Road in East Grinstead, was arrested in Forest Lane, Groombridge on 28 December, and charged with driving with 70mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath in his system driving with no insurance and driving without a valid test certificate.
He pleaded guilty at Crawley Magistrates’ Court on 18 January and was disqualified from driving for 18 months. He was also ordered to pay a total of £220 in fines, £85 costs and a £20 victim surcharge.
Alan Hunter, 67, retired, of Somerset Road in Worthing, was arrested in Sea Lane, Ferring on 30 December and charged with driving with 82mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath in his system.
He pleaded guilty at Worthing Magistrates’ Court on 19 January and was disqualified from driving for 40 months. He was also ordered to pay a £500 fine, £85 costs and a £50 victim surcharge.
Steven Chapman, 26, a roofer, of Darwin Close in Horsham, was arrested in Springfield Road, Horsham on 30 December and charged with driving with 49mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath in his system.
He pleaded guilty at Crawley Magistrates’ Court on 19 January and was disqualified from driving for 12 months. He was also ordered to pay a £120 fine, £85 costs and a £20 victim surcharge.
Robert Hudson, 26, a youth worker, of Abbotsleigh in Southwater, was arrested in Park Street, Horsham on 30 December and charged with driving with 58mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath in his system.
He pleaded guilty at Crawley Magistrates’ Court on 27 January and was disqualified from driving for 12 months. He was also ordered to pay a £125 fine, £85 costs and a £20 victim surcharge.
Officers also arrested a further 21 motorists on suspicion of drink and drug-driving offences in the first three days of the New Year.
Mark Ratcliffe, 59, a company director, of Holmbush Lane in Henfield, was arrested on the A23 at Bolney on 1 January and charged with driving with 65mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath in his system.
He pleaded guilty at Crawley Magistrates’ Court on 19 January and was disqualified from driving for 12 months. He was also ordered to pay a £555 fine, £85 costs and a £56 victim surcharge.
Terry Alkins, 31, a builder, of Meeching Road in Newhaven, was arrested in Newick Drive, Newick on 1 January, and charged with driving with 83mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath in his system, driving with no licence and driving with no insurance.
He pleaded guilty at Brighton Magistrates’ Court on 18 January and was disqualified from driving for 21 months. He was also ordered to pay a total of £480 in fines, £85 costs and a £24 victim surcharge.
This brings the total number of motorists convicted since the campaign began on 1 December to 81.
People in Sussex can text officers on 65999 with the details of people they suspect of drink or drug driving or visit www.operationcrackdown.co.uk.
You can also contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 (www.crimestoppers-uk.org).
If you know someone is driving while over the limit or after taking drugs call 999.
Rye’s Own Bulletin 3 February 2016
Details provided by Sussex Police