Careworker guilty of drink driving

At 5.10pm on December 24, 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 January 14, 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.

Richard Willard, 31, a builder, of Pound Lane in Upper Beeding, was arrested in Goddards Green, Hassocks, on December 17 and charged with driving with 72mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath in his system.

He pleaded guilty at Crawley Magistrates’ Court on January 11 and was disqualified from driving for 22 months. He was also ordered to pay a £120 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 December 20 and charged with driving with 65mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath in his system.

He pleaded guilty at Worthing Magistrates’ Court on January 14 and was disqualified from driving for 17 months. He was also ordered to pay a £175 fine, £85 costs and a £20 victim surcharge.

Luke Rudland, 28, a clerk, of Robinson Close in Lancing, was arrested in Brighton Road, Lancing, on December 25 and charged with driving with 75mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath in his system.

He pleaded guilty at Worthing Magistrates’ Court on January 14 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.

Alan Hunter, 67, retired, of Somerset Road in Worthing, was arrested in Sea Lane, Ferring on December 30 and charged with driving with 82mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath in his system.

He pleaded guilty at Worthing Magistrates’ Court on January 19 and was disqualified from driving for 40 months. He was also ordered to pay a £500 fine, £85 costs and a £50 victim surcharge.

This brings the total number of motorists convicted since the campaign began on December 1 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.

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