Drunk businessman found slumped at Little Common

He was found slumped in his car at Little Common.

Graeme Hares, from Gosport, Hampshire, admitted driving a motor vehicle with excess alcohol after tests revealed he had 124ml of alcohol per 100mg of breath.

The legal limit is 35ml of alcohol per 100mg of breath. Hares had been celebrating his birthday in Hastings and had become very drunk.

He later received a phone call from his estranged wife, asking him to babysit their 10-year-old daughter, which he agreed to do.

Hares was seen driving erratically by pedestrians and other drivers as he made his way along the A259 between Hastings and Little Common.

Hare's BMW was said to be swerving in and out of lanes in a dangerous manner at 60mph, clipping the pavement and coming very close to other cars.

The police received calls from several concerned onlookers and sent a patrol car out in pursuit.

Hares was found slumped in his car in Peartree Lane holding his mobile phone.

He was woken up and told officers he hadn't been driving and had last had a drink about two hours before.

Defending, Linda Kerry said: "He is extremely ashamed of what he has done. The thought of prison for someone like him is devastating, not only to him but to his employees and daughter.

"To his credit, when he got to Little Common he realised he was in no fit state to drive and stopped."

Sentencing, chairman of the bench David Wallis said: "This is an extremely serious situation. What we have heard this morning could quite easily have ended in a fatality. We have seriously considered sending you to prison."

Instead, Hares was given an 18 month, 150-hour Community Punishment Order and banned from driving for three years. He was also ordered to pay 43 court costs.