Video: OAP drink-driver banned after going wrong way down A24

A police spokesman said Godfrey Maclauchlan drove his blue Ford Mondeo north on the southbound carriageway of the road at Cowfold at about 6am on June 2.

Officers saw him driving with his window down despite the fact it was raining heavily after he turned east onto the A272.

The spokesman said Maclauchlan did not seem to see the blue flashing lights and sirens behind him for several miles and was weaving in and out of the gutter, travelling at 30mph in a 50mph area.

He stopped after the patrol car pulled alongside the Mondeo and an officer shouted at him to stop.

Maclauchlan pleaded guilty to drink-driving at Crawley Magistrates’ Court on June 16.

Maclauchlan, of Crown Road, Billericay, Essex, was banned from driving for 12 months, fined £250 and ordered to pay £235 costs and a £25 victim surcharge.

Chief Inspector Phil Nicholas, of Sussex and Surrey roads policing unit, said: “The case of Maclauchlan shows yet again that it isn’t only the young or middle aged that decide to drink-drive.

“Getting behind the wheel after you have had a drink puts not just yourself in danger but everyone else on the roads that you might meet.

“We are determined to catch those whose selfish behaviour endangers others and I would urge anyone who suspects someone is drink-driving to contact us immediately.”

Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on.

1) Make our website your homepage

2) Like our Facebook page

3) Follow us on Twitter

4) Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out!

Always the first with your local news.

Be part of it.