A serial drink driver who tried to claim he hadn’t been driving when police officers stopped him at a petrol station has been jailed for three months.
Michael Lambert was seen getting out of his Fiat Panda and going into the shop at the petrol station on the A23 at Pyecombe on January 12 this year.
But when he was stopped as he jogged back to the car, he told officers it wasn’t his car and that he hadn’t driven it there. He then blew a positive breath test, showing he was nearly twice over the legal limit.
Despite only having a provisional licence, he had already racked up more than one previous conviction for drink driving.
At Brighton Magistrates’ Court on January 13, he was jailed for three months for his flagrant disregard of previous court orders and driving disqualifications.
Lambert, formerly an engineering worker of Ashenground Road, Haywards Heath, admitted driving over the legal alcohol limit, driving while disqualified, driving without valid insurance, and obstructing officers in the course of their duties.
The court heard he also initially refused to provide his name to police.
Investigating officer PC Ben Dart from the Roads Policing Unit said: “Lambert seemed to be in a hurry to leave the petrol station after seeing police officers.
“He showed no concern for his previous driving disqualification from April last year.
“We know the devastating consequences that drink and drug drivers can have.
“So we are pleased that Lambert has received a significant custodial sentence, it should act as a warning to all drink and drug drivers who ignore the risks of getting behind the wheel on our roads.”
