Shamed: Here are some of the people prosecuted by police during Christmas drink-drive crackdown

Detailed figures from the annual Christmas drink and drug drive campaign have now been released.

A total of 554 breath tests were carried out by officers during the initiative, which ran between December 1 and January 1.

This is far lower than the 869 breath tests during the same period the previous year.

Motorists were tested during routine stop checks and breath tests were requested from all drivers involved in road traffic collisions, irrespective of whether or not a drink driving offence was suspected.

Field Impairment Tests (FIT) were also conducted on drivers suspected of being unfit to drive through drugs.

In total, Dorset Police recorded 78 arrests – 13 of which were for driving under the influence of drugs and four for refusing to provide a sample. During the same period the previous year, 105 people were arrested.

In all, 54 people have so far been charged with a drink or drug driving-related offence as a result of the campaign, compared to 44 during the 2015 campaign.

Of those charged, 44 were men and 10 were women.

Inspector Matt Butler of the traffic unit, said: “Those charged throughout the campaign were not necessarily your ‘usual’ suspects.

“Too many people, who are otherwise law-abiding citizens, fail to consider the untold devastation that drink and drug driving can cause.

“I have been the person knocking on the door to inform relatives that their loved one has been killed as a result of a motorist who thinks it is okay to get behind the wheel while under the influence.

This is something that I do not want to do during the festive period, or any other time of year.

“As in previous years, I would like to thank those members of the public who called us to report a drink driver.

“Our enforcement efforts will of course continue all year round and intelligence from the public is invaluable in keeping Dorset’s roads safe.”

Here are some of the drivers prosecuted by police:

Sean Northover

A BRIDPORT man has been handed a 12-month driving ban after he was found drunk behind the wheel of a car without a licence or insurance.

Sean Northover, 22, was pulled over in his brother’s Ford Mondeo on Granby Way, Weymouth, on Boxing Day. Northover, of Fishweir Fields, admitted to all three charges at Weymouth Magistrates Court.

The court heard that police officers stopped Northover shortly before midnight after they noticed the car driving slowly with the hazard lights flashing.

Magistrates were told that when he was arrested Northover told police: “I have been drinking all day, I don’t have a licence and I am driving back to Bridport.”

His alcohol breath levels were 73mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35mg.

Mitigating, Megan McGhee told court: “He had argued with his ex-partner that night. He has admitted he has anger issues and struggles with his coping mechanisms.”

Miss McGhee said that since his arrest he has made an appointment with a wellbeing centre and asked magistrates to take this into consideration.

Northover was also ordered to pay fines totalling £643, a victim surcharge of £30 and costs of £85.

Odile Horsfall

A PENSIONER has been given a 15-month driving ban for exceeding the limit while driving to collect her daughter’s epilepsy pen.

Odile Horsfall, 70, appeared before Weymouth Magistrates Court after being caught drink-driving outside her home in Gillingham on Boxing Day. Horsfall, of Wyke Road, admitted to the charge in court.

The court heard how upon returning from dinner at a relatives with her family, her epileptic daughter became increasingly panicked that she had left her handbag, containing her Epi-pen, behind.

The condition prevents her daughter from driving.

Meghan McGhee, mitigating, told the caught that as Horsfall decided to drive her daughter to find the bag as the increased anxiety was putting her daughter at risk of an attack.

When officers pulled Horsfall over in Peugeot 307 a breathalyser test revealed 52 micrograms of alcohol in her breath.

The legal limit is 35mg. Miss McGhee added: "She didn’t think she was over the limit as she had a big meal with tea and biscuits afterwards. She felt she was in control.

"This is something she has never done before and will never do again."

The court heard a statement from Horsfall in which she expressed how she had acted on a ‘mother’s worry’ and was remorseful for her actions.

Horsfall was disqualified from driving for 15 months, fined £160 and order to pay a victim surcharge of £30 and costs of £85.

Sergio Daniel Janiero

A MAN driving home the morning after a night out in town was still more than double over the alcohol limit when he caused a crash in Weymouth, a court was told.

Sergio Daniel Janeiro, 34, of Market Street in Abbotsbury, was driving home on New Year’s Day at around 10am, when he swerved and crashed into an oncoming car on Granby Way at the football ground roundabout.

The crash caused minor injuries and disruption to other drivers due to oil on the road, caused by the collision.

At Weymouth Magistrates Court Janeiro pleaded guilty to driving a vehicle when above the legal alcohol limit.

He admitted to having 83 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, exceeding the prescribed limit of 35 microgrammes, making him more than double over the limit when he was driving.

Karen O’Brien, mitigating, told the court Janeiro had been in town the night before celebrating New Year’s Eve, and he admitted to driving drunk, but that his “recollection was blurred”.

She said Janeiro “thought he had given himself enough time for it to get out of his system”. Janeiro was disqualified from driving for 22 months and ordered to pay £345 in fines and costs.

And the people he collided with...

TULA Coman and her partner Robert Woodward were in the car that Janeiro collided with.

Speaking to the Echo Ms Coman, from Wyke Regis, explained how they set off to the Midlands on New Year's Day for a funeral.

She said: "Because it was New Year's Day we thought it would be quiet on the roads.

"As we were driving up towards Chafey's roundabout we saw the car coming towards it - it was driving along the verge.

"Before I knew it I heard this almighty noise.

"I must have passed out. The next thing I remember is being out of the car on the verge.

"We have never been in an accident before. Our dog was in the back seat and was luckily strapped in otherwise I dread to think what could have happened. She would have probably gone through the front window.

"It was just horrendous.

"Both myself and my boyfriend suffered whiplash and I've damaged my ribs. I am just waiting for a medical assessment but they think I've either broken a few or fractured them. It makes it difficult to do anything to be honest and I'm not getting much sleep.

"And what is silly is that we would have never normally have driven the Southill way, we would have always gone the Portesham way. It was only because we thought the roads would be quiet. "We won't be driving on New Year's Day again."

Charles Payne

A DRINK-driver was forced to spend his 21st birthday in court after being caught behind the wheel nearly twice over the legal limit.

Charles Payne appeared before Weymouth Magistrates Court after being caught drink-driving on the Tunnel Road in Beaminster.

He pleaded guilty to driving a motor vehicle when alcohol level above limit.

Elizabeth Valera prosecuting told the court how just after midnight on Christmas Eve police followed a Peugeot on the Tunnel Road being driven by Payne. Officers observed the car swerving and going over the middle line of the road for "no particular reason".

Miss Valera added that the car went in to the Beaminster Tunnel and "nearly collided" with the tunnel wall.

Officers pulled the car over soon after and observed Payne to be drunk and took him to the police station.

When he was breathalysed the test reveal a result of 63 microgrammes of alcohol for every 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35mg.

Megan McGhee mitigating, told the court how Payne had just come home from Australia a few weeks ago, where he had been working and was due to go back on days after his court apperance.

She said how he had been at a party with friends that night and had "some beers and some port".

There was a gap between the drinking and the driving as Payne got a taxi from the party to a friend's house for some food.

The court heard how Payne, of Charlton Musgrove, Wincanton in Somerset, is training to be a jockey and was due to train at 6am the following morning and wanted to get back home.

The court heard a statement from Payne in which he expressed his "sincere remorse" and that there was "no excuse for his actions".

Payne was disqualified from driving for 18 months, fined £250, and told to pay a victim surcharge of £30 and costs of £85.