Motorists lose licences in Christmas drink drive crackdown

A number of motorists will be without a licence this Christmas, after being convicted of drink and drug-related driving offences in Sussex.
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A total of 20 drivers have been sentenced for their crimes since Operation Dragonfly - the Christmas 2015 crackdown on drink and drug-driving - launched on December 1.

A number of those convicted come from the east of the county.

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Daryl Tones, 24, a scrap metal dealer, of Camber Way in Pevensey Bay, was arrested in Sevenoaks Road, Eastbourne, on December 3 and charged with driving with 68mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath in his system.

He pleaded guilty at Hastings Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday (December 23) and was disqualified from driving for 18 months. He was also ordered to pay a £250 fine, a £150 criminal courts charge, £85 costs and a £25 victim surcharge.

Michelle Giles, 43, an administration employee, of Etchingham Drive in St Leonards, was arrested in Church Wood Drive, St Leonards, on December 4 and charged with driving with 62mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath in her system.

She pleaded guilty at Hastings Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday (December 23) and was disqualified from driving for 12 months. She was also ordered to pay a £250 fine, a £150 criminal courts charge and a £25 victim surcharge.

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Juliet Robinson-Ovens, 42, a government employee, of Central Hill in London, was arrested in Hilltop Drive, Rye, on December 4, and charged with driving with 65mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath in her system, and being drunk in charge of a child.

She pleaded guilty to drink-driving at Hastings Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday (December 23) and was disqualified from driving for 19 months. She was also ordered to pay a £110 fine, a £150 criminal courts charge, £85 costs and a £20 victim surcharge. The offence of drunk in charge of a child was withdrawn.

Darren Weeks, 49, a roofer, of Firle Close in Hastings, was arrested in Crowborough Road in Hastings, on December 9, and charged with driving with 47mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath in his system, driving with no licence and driving with no insurance.

He pleaded guilty at Hastings Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday (December 23) and was disqualified from driving for 16 months. He was also ordered to pay a £110 fine, a £150 criminal courts charge, £85 costs and a £20 victim surcharge.

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Superintendent Jane Derrick, the head of road policing across Sussex and Surrey, said: “We are not complacent and know that drink and drug-driving remains an issue across the counties, and will take action against anyone we suspect could be behind the wheel while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

“We will not tolerate drink or drug-driving and we are determined to do whatever we can to make the roads safer.”

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 (http://www.crimestoppers-uk.org/).

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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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