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| Drink-drive jail term criticised | Drink-drive jail term criticised |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| The decision to sentence a drink driver who was six times over the limit to four months in jail has been condemned by campaigners. | |
| Peter Banks, 44, of Queens Road, East Grinstead, Sussex, was disqualified from driving for five years when he appeared at Crawley Magistrates' Court. | Peter Banks, 44, of Queens Road, East Grinstead, Sussex, was disqualified from driving for five years when he appeared at Crawley Magistrates' Court. |
| The Campaign Against Drinking and Driving (CADD) said he should have been given the maximum six-month sentence. | The Campaign Against Drinking and Driving (CADD) said he should have been given the maximum six-month sentence. |
| Sussex Police said Banks had been dealt with appropriately by magistrates. | Sussex Police said Banks had been dealt with appropriately by magistrates. |
| Banks, who was driving a Nissan Sunny, was stopped by officers in Station Approach, East Grinstead, at about 1920 BST last Sunday. | Banks, who was driving a Nissan Sunny, was stopped by officers in Station Approach, East Grinstead, at about 1920 BST last Sunday. |
| People like this man are being brought to court time and time again and effectively getting slapped on the wrist Carole Whittingham | People like this man are being brought to court time and time again and effectively getting slapped on the wrist Carole Whittingham |
| Two roadside breath tests were carried out - one showed he had 210mg alcohol per 100ml of breath, the second 220mg per 100ml. The legal limit for driving is 35mg. | Two roadside breath tests were carried out - one showed he had 210mg alcohol per 100ml of breath, the second 220mg per 100ml. The legal limit for driving is 35mg. |
| Banks was charged with driving a motor vehicle after consuming excess alcohol, remanded in custody and sentenced by magistrates on Monday. | Banks was charged with driving a motor vehicle after consuming excess alcohol, remanded in custody and sentenced by magistrates on Monday. |
| Carole Whittingham, from CADD, said it was the worst case of drink and driving that the group had heard of. | Carole Whittingham, from CADD, said it was the worst case of drink and driving that the group had heard of. |
| She said: "What sort of message is that sending out? | She said: "What sort of message is that sending out? |
| "The sentencing powers are there. The problem is magistrates are not using them to full effect. | "The sentencing powers are there. The problem is magistrates are not using them to full effect. |
| "But it's the government's fault because there are not enough prison places. | "But it's the government's fault because there are not enough prison places. |
| "People like this man are being brought to court time and time again and effectively getting slapped on the wrist." | "People like this man are being brought to court time and time again and effectively getting slapped on the wrist." |
| Sgt John Carter of Sussex Police said: "By engaging in this criminal behaviour Mr Banks placed other innocent road users, as well as himself, at high risk of serious injury. | Sgt John Carter of Sussex Police said: "By engaging in this criminal behaviour Mr Banks placed other innocent road users, as well as himself, at high risk of serious injury. |
| "He has been dealt with appropriately for this offence by magistrates - the high level of intoxication reflected by the term of imprisonment." | "He has been dealt with appropriately for this offence by magistrates - the high level of intoxication reflected by the term of imprisonment." |