A drink-driving Brighton waiter has been banned from the roads not just for this Christmas – but for next Christmas too.
Alecio Vieira, 33, of Newmarket Road, Brighton, was arrested on the A27 at the Beddingham roundabout, near Lewes, on Sunday 6 December.
He was charged with driving with 106 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of his breath – more than three times the 35 microgram legal limit.
Vieira pleaded guilty at Brighton Magistrates’ Court on Monday (21 December) and was disqualified from driving for 15 months.
He was also ordered to carry out 80 hours of unpaid work, and pay a £150 criminal courts charge, £85 Crown Prosecution Service costs and a £60 victim surcharge.
Todd Tidswell, a shop worker, of The Broyle, Ringmer, was arrested in Lewes Road, Brighton, on Friday 4 December.
He was charged with failing to provide a specimen for analysis, driving without insurance and having cocaine and cannabis.
He also pleaded guilty at Brighton Magistrates’ Court on Monday (21 December) and was banned from driving for 12 months.
He was fined £500 and ordered to pay a £180 criminal courts charge, £85 Crown Prosecution Service costs and a £25 victim surcharge.
Mustafa Neheili, 23, an assembler, of Marston Road, Oxford, was arrested in Ditchling Road, Brighton, on Friday 4 December and charged with driving with 51 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of his breath.
He pleaded guilty at Brighton Magistrates’ Court on Monday and was disqualified from driving for 14 months.
He was also fined £240 and ordered to pay a £150 criminal courts charge, £85 Crown Prosecution Service costs and a £24 victim surcharge.
Shelley Critcher, 28, a medical receptionist, of Walton-on-Thames Surrey, was arrested in Marina Way, Brighton, on Sunday 6 December.
She was charged with driving with 82 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of her breath.
However, this was withdrawn and she was charged with being in charge of a motor vehicle with 82 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of his breath.
She pleaded guilty at Brighton Magistrates’ Court on Monday and had her driving licence endorsed with 10 penalty points.
She was also fined £125 and ordered to pay a £150 criminal courts charge, £85 Crown Prosecution Service costs and a £20 victim surcharge.
Sussex Police said that four more drivers had been arrested as part of the annual crackdown on drink and drug driving.
A total of 137 arrests have now been made since the campaign began on Tuesday 1 December. Of these, 72 have been charged.
Earlier this week Chief Inspector Andy Gooch said: “With Christmas just around the corner, we will be continuing to target motorists who think it is ok to drive while under the influence of drink or drugs.
“While we encourage people to enjoy the festivities, it is important that they do so without putting their own lives – and others’ – in jeopardy.
“Such actions can lead to devastating consequences and we are committed to ensuring the roads in Sussex are safe during the festive period and throughout the year.
“The message, as always, is clear – drink or drive. Never both.”
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.
If someone is driving while over the limit or after taking drugs, people can call 999.
Shelley was found guilty of the lesser charge because the police provided no protection whilst vulnerable. Disgusting this has been reported in this light
Shelley was forced to leave a hotel and sleep in her car. How Sussex police feel this is a good arrest?