Lorry driver's drunken trip (From Barry And District News)

Lorry driver's drunken trip

A LORRY driver from Barry has been jailed by magistrates in Cambridge after police officers found him drunk in his cab - with a bottle of vodka alongside him.

Neil Williamson, aged 43, of Ash Grove, Cadoxton, was jailed for four months by magistrates, who said it was "pure luck" he had not caused an "appalling accident".

Williamson had drunk more than three times the legal limit as he drove along the A14 in Cambridgeshire - a road known locally as notoriously dangerous.

Police were alerted last Thursday night by a driver who dialled 999 after seeing Williamson's vehicle swerving across the carriageway.

His lorry eventually skidded into a layby near the Rowley Mile Services, where it came to stop in a sand trap.

When officers arrived, they found Williamson in the cab with a bottle of vodka.

Flynn Jennings, prosecuting, told magistrates: "The police spoke to him, but his speech was slurred and he smelt of intoxicating liquor.

"Williamson would not get out of the cab. The door was locked.

"Finally, the officers got hold of his hands and pulled him out, because they were concerned he might drive off."

Williamson was taken to Parkside police station, in Cambridge, and was asked to give two specimens of breath for analysis.

The court heard that he blew only once - giving a reading of 115 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit to drive is 35 microgrammes.

Mr Jennings said the lorry driver had been given several opportunities to provide a further specimen of breath, but refused.

Williamson pleaded guilty at Cambridge Magistrates' Court to failing to provide a specimen of breath for analysis.

Elfrieda Sarfo, defending, said Williamson - who used to have a drink problem but had stopped of his own volition - had no explanation for the incident.

Ms Sarfo told the court that on the day of the offence, Williamson had looked at his tachograph and thought he could stop for the day.

"He had a drink," she said.

"But he had much, much more than he normally would.

"He thought he could not drive any more for the day, but then he realised he could, so foolishly started driving again."

Jaling Williamson for four months and banning him from driving for three years, magistrate Merissa Johnson said: "This is an offence of a most serious nature.