East Preston teacher charged with drink driving

More than 50 motorists have now been arrested in Sussex as part of Operation Dragonfly – the Christmas 2015 crackdown on drink and drug-driving.
By The Newsroom
Published 11th Dec 2015, 16:11 BST

A total of 55 arrests have been made as part of the operation, run jointly by Surrey and Sussex Police, since it began on 1 December. Of these, 26 have been charged.

Peter Merrifield, 65, a teacher, of Peak Lane in Kingston Gorse, East Preston, was arrested in Station Road, East Preston on 9 December and charged with having 111 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath in his system. He is due to appear before Worthing Magistrates’ Court on 29 December.

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Rolandus Lukosius, 44, unemployed, of Glamis Street in Bognor Regis, was arrested in Kingsham Road, Chichester, on 7 December and charged with failing to provide a specimen for analysis. He is due to appear before Worthing Magistrates’ Court on 22 December.

Gillian Tiffen, 62, retired, of Cantelupe Road, Bexhill, was arrested in Bohemia Road, Hastings, on 8 December and charged with failing to provide a specimen for analysis. She is due to appear before Hastings Magistrates’ Court on 23 December.

Darren Weeks, 49, a roofer, of Firle Close, Hastings, was arrested in Crowborough Road, Hastings on 9 December and charged with having 47mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath in his system, and driving without a licence or insurance. He is due to appear before Hastings Magistrates’ Court on 23 December.

Chief Inspector Andy Gooch said: “The office Christmas party season is now in full swing and many people - especially those who don’t drink regularly - will not be aware of their limits. The message is clear, drink or drive; not both.

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“Officers will be carrying out checks again this weekend - as they do every day - to ensure offenders are caught and law-abiding road users are kept safe.”

People in Sussex can text officers on 65999 with the details of people they suspect of drink or drug driving or click here

You can also contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or click here

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.