Motorway drunk driver without full licence banned
A man who drove down a motorway without a full licence and while more than four times over the drink drive limit has been banned from driving.
Vincent Lime, of Casewell Close in Corringham, Thurrock, was seen swerving and nearly collided with multiple vehicles while driving eastbound near junction 15 of the M4, near Swindon, on 6 December.
Wiltshire Police arrested Lime after he failed a roadside breath test, which took eight attempts due to how intoxicated he was, giving a reading of 148mg. The legal limit is 35mg.
At Swindon Magistrates' Court on Monday, the 36-year-old was disqualified from driving for 30 months.
Lime, who had pleaded guilty to driving a vehicle otherwise in accordance with a licence and drink driving, was also ordered to pay £85 in Crown Prosecution Service costs and a £114 surcharge.
Police were first alerted to Lime's driving after receiving multiple calls from concerned members of the public.
Officers waited at Membury Services before spotting the vehicle, a Ford Fiesta, and eventually stopping Lime, who was visibly under the influence of alcohol, near to junction 14.
The vehicle was seized after Lime failed a breath side test and was also found to only be a provisional licence holder.
PC Paul Davis of the Roads Policing Unit, said Lime "was so intoxicated it took him eight attempts to provide a roadside breath test".
"This was a busy Saturday afternoon in December – the roads were understandably busy and I am actually amazed that he didn't cause a serious collision.".
The officer added: "Drink or drug driving is not tolerated in Wiltshire and I cannot stress enough how important it is to plan your journey home if you're planning on consuming alcohol of an evening – this includes any trips you are planning on making the following day when you could still be over the legal limit.
"Never get behind the wheel of a car if you think you may be over the limit. The risk is never, ever worth it.".
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