A drunk lorry driver who was almost five times over the legal limit when he was arrested has been sentenced to jail and banned from driving. Dainius Juodis, formerly of Grafton Road, Worcester Park, Surrey, was caught last Saturday (January 11) on the M23.
The 50-year-old was driving a HGV on the A23, south of Crawley, when officers took chase. He initially failed to stop, before coming to halt four miles later on the M23.
He was arrested and charged with driving over the legal alcohol limit. Juodis, who had previous convictions for drink driving, had consumed half a bottle of vodka before taking to the road.
He appeared at Crawley Magistrates’ Court on Monday, January 13, where he he admitted the charge. He was sentenced to jail for three months, and disqualified from driving for five years.
Tactical Firearms Unit (TFU) Inspector Mark Robinson said: “This was a shocking incident, with a lorry driver found nearly five times over the legal alcohol limit. TFU officers had to contend with keeping the public safe while a large vehicle was failing to stop, which posed a high risk to other road users as well as to the safety of the officers.
“Juodis eventually stopped in a live lane of the motorway, which required our officers to close four lanes of the carriageway in order to safely arrest him. By the manner of his driving, Juodis is incredibly lucky not to have caused serious harm or a fatality on our roads.
“The incident shows our officers’ determination to catch offenders and demonstrates the professionalism of our firearms officers. They are highly trained in a variety of duties above and beyond armed response.”
Juodis’ arrest follows the rise in drink and drug driving reported in Sussex Police’s winter campaign Operation Limit. Drink and drug-driving remains one of the main reasons why people are killed or seriously injured on the county’ roads.
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