Crowhurst man banned for drink-driving

Brian Basham, of Catsfield Road, was arrested at 9.20pm on June 14 after police stopped his Subaru Outback in Catsfield Road, Crowhurst, because officers saw him repeatedly crossing onto the wrong side of the carriageway.

He had 85 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of his breath – more than twice the drink-drive legal limit.

The 71-year-old had previously served a 12-month ban for drink-driving in 2007.

Basham pleaded guilty to drink-driving when he appeared at Hastings Magistrates’ Court on July 1.

He was banned from driving for 40 months, fined £1000 and ordered to pay £235 costs and a £100 victim surcharge.

John Quinnell admitted to officers who stopped his Ford C-Max he had drunk five pints of beer but then refused to let them breathlyse him.

The 23-year-old was arrested at 11.50pm on June 11 after officers saw him driving erratically in Hastings.

Quinnell, of Ore Valley Road, Hastings, pleaded guilty to failing to provide a specimen for analysis when he appeared at Hastings Magistrates’ Court on July 1.

He was banned from driving for 12 months, fined £250 and ordered to pay £235 costs and a £25 victim surcharge.

Jonathan Onions stopped to have several pints of lager on his way home from work but then got back behind the wheel of his blue Volkswagen Transporter.

The 52-year-old crashed into a Renault Laguna that had been abandoned on the A29 Stane Street in Pulborough and then span into the path of another Volkswagen Transporter travelling in the opposite direction at 10pm on June 18.

He had 50 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of his breath - more than twice the drink-drive legal limit.

Onions, of Elmwood Avenue, Bognor, pleaded guilty to drink-driving when he appeared at Worthing Magistrates’ Court on July 7.

He was banned from driving for 36 months, fined £500 and ordered to pay £235 costs and a £50 victim surcharge.

Chief Inspector Phil Nicholas, of Surrey and Sussex roads policing unit, said: “Luckily both drivers escaped with minor injuries but this could have been a very serious or even fatal crash.

“Onions knew he shouldn’t have mixed drinking and driving but decided to chance his arm. It could have cost him his life.

“If you think someone is about to drive after drinking tell us so we can get there before it is too late.”

A total of 53 people have so far been convicted of offences as part of the summer Operation Dragonfly drink and drug-driving campaign.

Sandra Feltham, 65, was arrested at 12.25am on June 14 after she crashed her Nissan Micra into a police car in Gayfere Road, Epsom.

She had 93 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of her breath – more than twice the legal limit.

Feltham, of Rosedale Road, Epsom, pleaded guilty to drink-driving when she appeared at Redhill Magistrates’ Court on July 3.

She was banned from driving for 24 months, fined £120 and ordered to pay £235 costs and a £20 victim surcharge.

Reginald Acquaah, 37, was arrested at 11.35pm on June 5 after officers stopped his BMW X5 because it was travelling at 51mph in a 30mph stretch of the A259 Brighton Road in Lancing.

He had 52 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of his breath.

Acquaah, of Church Close, Upper Beeding, pleaded guilty to drink-driving and speeding when he appeared at Worthing Magistrates’ Court on July 2.

He was banned from driving for 13 months, fined £250 and ordered to pay £235 costs and a £25 victim surcharge.

Sam Ross, 19, was arrested at 12.50am on June 19 after police saw him driving his Vauxhall Corsa in Pegler Way, Crawley, without his lights on.

He had 80 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of his breath – more than twice the legal limit.

Ross, of Buckswood Drive, Crawley, pleaded guilty to drink-driving when he appeared at Crawley Magistrates’ Court on July 3.

He was banned from driving for 17 months, fined £160 and ordered to pay £235 costs and a £20 victim surcharge.

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 555111.

To keep up to date with officers looking for drink or drug drivers, follow #opdragonfly on Twitter.

If you know someone is driving while over the limit or after taking drugs call 999.

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