A man caught drink-driving on Christmas Eve confessed: “I know I shouldn’t have been driving”.

Appearring at Hastings Magistrates’ Court on January 29th George Reynolds a 24-year-old, sales assistant, of Shipley Road, Brighton was disqualified from driving for 12 months and ordered to a pay a £120 fine, £85 costs and a £32 victim surcharge.

After failing a roadside breath test Reynolds was arrested and charged with driving with 41mcg of alcohol per 100ml of breath in his system – the legal limit is 35mcg. He confessed to officers: “I did have a few pints tonight and I know that I shouldn’t have been driving, especially at this time of year. I was just going to see my family this way.”

Reynolds is among 41 motorists who have so far been convicted as part of Sussex Police and Surrey Police’s Christmas crackdown on drink and drug-drivers.

The campaign – set by the National Police Chief’s Council – ran from December 18th to January 1st and led to a total of 110 arrests in Sussex.

Other local people convicted as part of the campaign were:

• Steven Curtis, 37, a chef, of St Helens Road, Hastings, was arrested in Bexhill Road, St Leonards, on December 23rd and charged with driving with 51mcg of alcohol per 100ml of breath in his system and driving with no insurance. At Hastings Magistrates’ Court on January 29th, he was disqualified from driving for 14 months. He was also ordered to pay a £460 fine, £85 costs and a £32 victim surcharge.

• David Tortello, 59, a driver, of no fixed address, was arrested in Bexhill Road, St Leonards, on December 26th and charged with driving with 95mcg of alcohol per 100ml of breath in his system.
  At Hastings Magistrates’ Court on January 29th, he was disqualified from driving for 36 months and given a nine-month community order. He was also ordered to pay a £120 fine, £85 costs and a £90 victim surcharge.

• Lee Dunn, 44 was arrested in Robertson Street, Hastings, on December 30th and charged with driving with 69mcg of alcohol per 100ml of breath in his system. The driver from Nottingham was disqualified from driving for 18 months. He was also ordered to pay a £207 fine, £85 costs and a £32 victim surcharge.

If you’re prepared to drive under the influence of drink or drugs, prepare to face the consequences, say Sussex Police and those could include:

• Killing or seriously injuring yourself or someone else;
• A minimum 12 month ban;
• An unlimited fine;
• A possible prison sentence;
• A criminal record, which could affect your current and future employment;
• An increase in your car insurance costs;
• Trouble travelling to countries such as the USA.

People in Sussex can text officers on 65999 with the details of people they suspect of drink or drug-driving, or visit the Operation Crackdown website. 

You can also contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or report it online. 

If you know someone is driving while over the limit or after taking drugs, call 999.