Half a dozen more motorists sentenced in court following festive drink drive crackdown in Northamptonshire

On December 1, 2025 Northamptonshire Police launched its annual campaign against drink and drug driving, where by anyone caught caught driving over the legal limit over the Christmas and New Year will be publicly named on the force website, social media and this newspaper.

Between December 1 and January 2, officers joined colleagues from across England and Wales for the National Police Chiefs’ Council’s month-long Operation Limit, which saw 110 drivers arrested on the county’s roads during the campaign.

Most of those arrested during the campaign have been through the court system and have been sentenced for their offences.

Further court results for those charged during the campaign

• Joshua Mason, aged 30, of Highthorpe, Southrey, Lincoln, was found guilty of being in charge of a motor vehicle when the alcohol level was above the limit following a trial at Northampton Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday February 18. The court heard that Mason was in the driver’s seat of a white Ford Focus with the engine running when he was arrested in The Avenue, Whitfield, shortly before 8.50pm on Thursday December 4. He was later charged after providing an evidential reading of 56 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. Following the verdict, Mason was given 10 endorsement points on his driving licence, which meant he received an automatic six month disqualified due to his points totting up. He was also fined £500 and ordered to pay £650 court costs and £200 victim surcharge.
• Stuart Burrell, aged 45, of Elkesley Road, Mansfield, received a community order, 80 hours of unpaid work and was disqualified from driving for 40 months, after pleading guilty to driving a motor vehicle when the alcohol level was above the limit. At the Northampton Magistrates’ Court hearing on Friday, January 16, Burrell was also given one day of detention for failing to attend court on Monday December 22, and ordered to pay £85 court costs and £114 victim surcharge. Burrell was arrested at about 10.30pm on Thursday December 4, while driving a silver Vauxhall Astra car in Woodcroft Way, Kettering, and subsequently charged after providing an evidential reading of 75 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath.
• Johnny Connors, aged 19, of Coxs Court, Hibaldstow, Brigg, North Lincolnshire, changed his plea to guilty when he re-appeared at Northampton Magistrates’ Court on Thursday January 29, to stand trial in relation to driving a motor vehicle when the alcohol level was above the limit. The court heard that Connors was reversing a white Ford van in a public house car park in Crown Lane, Northampton when he was arrested at about 1.10am on Saturday December 6. He went on to be charged after providing an evidential reading of 42 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. Connors was sentenced to a community order, fined £500, disqualified from driving for 12 months, and ordered to pay £85 court costs and £114 victim surcharge.
• Gary Tillcock, aged 51, of Page Road, Hertford, returned to Northampton Magistrates’ Court on Thursday January 22, to be sentenced after pleading guilty to driving a motor vehicle when the alcohol level was above the limit. At the sentencing hearing, Tillock was handed a community order and ordered to complete a 120-day alcohol abstinence requirement and rehabilitation order. He was also disqualified from driving for 24 months and told to pay £85 court costs and £114 victim surcharge. Tillock was arrested after his white Ford transit van was involved in a road traffic collision at the northbound Watford Gap Services on the M1 at 5.05pm on Wednesday December 10. He went on to be charged after providing an evidential reading of 94 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath.
• Alin-Gabriel Petrariue, aged 34, formerly of St Michael’s Mount, Northampton, appeared at Northampton Magistrates’ Court on Monday February 2, to be sentenced after pleading guilty to driving a motor vehicle when the alcohol level was above the limit. At the hearing, Petrariue was disqualified from driving for 14 months, fined £623 and ordered to pay £85 court costs and £249 victim surcharge. Petrariue was arrested after his blue Volkswagen Passat was stopped at the police’s roadside check in Bridge Street, Northampton, at 9.55pm on Saturday December 20. He went on to be charged after providing an evidential reading of 76 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath.
• Jeremiah O’Driscoll, aged 42, of Admirals Way, Daventry, was back before Northampton Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday February 3, to be sentenced after pleading guilty to driving a motor vehicle when the alcohol level was above the limit. O’Driscoll was sentenced to 12 weeks imprisonment, suspended for 12 months, disqualified from driving for 52 months, handed a rehabilitation activity requirement and ordered to pay £85 court costs and £154 victim surcharge. However, he received no separate penalty for driving without third party insurance and otherwise in accordance with a licence. He was arrested at about 2.40pm on Sunday December 23, driving a white Ford Transit van on the A4500 near Sixfields in Northampton and subsequently charged after providing an evidential reading of 113 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath.

To report suspected drink or drug driving in confidence, call Northamptonshire Police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. In an emergency when life is in immediate danger, always call 999. Or for more information visit www.northants.police.uk/dontdrinkdrive.