Spate of drunk driving incidents amidst major police crackdown

Warwickshire Police have publicly named seven individuals stripped of their driving licenses as they continue a major crackdown on drink and drug driving.

The seven drivers appeared in court on 19 January, one of them narrowly avoiding a prison sentence after refusing to take a roadside breathalyser test.

Makhan Nagra, 61, received an eight-week prison sentence, suspended for six months, on the condition that they attend a 15-day rehabilitation course.

Six other individuals were also suspended from driving and ordered to pay costs and victim surcharge, for separate drunk driving incidents

He was also banned from driving for 32 months and ordered to pay £135 in costs alongside a £154 victim surcharge.

Six other individuals were also suspended from driving and ordered to pay costs and a victim surcharge for separate drunk driving incidents.

These included Jack Pethick, 27, who was arrested on 3 December after colliding with a tree, and Maulid Juma, 26, who was arrested in the early hours of 10 December after police officers discovered his car crashed into a lamppost. Both individuals had failed a roadside breathalyser test.

Tawanda Zata, 37, was observed by officers driving erratically on the M6, also in the early hours of 10 December. He refused initial orders to stop and was pursued onto the A14 where officers forced his car to stop, and he failed a roadside breathalyser test.

All six drivers were each offered the chance to reduce their period of disqualification by 1/4, subject to completing an approved driver rehabilitation course.

The sentences are the latest in a major police crackdown on drink and drug driving, named Operation Limit, which began on 1 December.

During a month-long period, 95 arrests were made in relation to suspected drink and drug driving offenses. The vast majority of those arrested were men.

If one of these drivers had caused death by careless driving when under the influence of drink, they could be facing life imprisonment, an unlimited fine, a 5-year driving ban, and an extended retest before their licence is returned

Simon Dalby, Warwickshire Police Sergeant

Sergeant Simon Dalby of Warwickshire Police, who is leading the operation, said in relation to the latest sentences: “These drivers all now have criminal records and will see their car insurance costs increase significantly. They may not believe it, but it really could have been much worse. If one of these drivers had caused death by careless driving when under the influence of drink, they could be facing life imprisonment, an unlimited fine, a five-year driving ban, and an extended retest before their licence is returned.”

He continued: “We hope they come to the realisation that drink driving just isn’t worth it. Our officers are working hard as part of Warwickshire Road Safety Partnership to make our roads safer, but we need drivers to do their bit too. This includes not drinking and driving.”