Kettering driver caught drunk behind the wheel twice in six months

Robert Szewczak, 32, was spotted driving badly by police in his BMW in Orton Road, Rothwell, on December 7.

Officers signalled at him to stop but he failed to do so.

When he was then apprehended Szewczak, of Woodcroft Way in Kettering, was breathalysed and gave a reading of 124mcg of alcohol per 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35mcg.

Enquiries then found Szewczak had been banned from the roads after admitting drink-driving at Humber Magistrates' Court in September.

The court heard that, on June 29, Szewczak was stopped by police in his BMW in Grimsby.

He was breathalysed and gave a reading of 134mg. Magistrates gave him a suspended prison sentence and banned him from driving - only for him to be caught drunk behind the wheel near Rothwell last month.

At Northampton Magistrates' Court he admitted drink-driving, failing to stop for officers, driving whilst disqualified, driving without insurance and breaching a suspended sentence.

He was jailed for 24 weeks - 18 weeks for the offence in Rothwell and six weeks added for breaching his suspended sentence.

Magistrates also banned him from driving for five years and ordered him to pay costs of £85 and a surcharge to fund victim services of £122.

A Northamptonshire Police spokesman said: “Do you want to be stopped, arrested, taken to the cells, charged and forced to appear before court?

"Do you want your friends, family and employers to know that you’re a drink or drug driver?

"If the answer is no, the message is simple – do not drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

“If you are lucky enough not to kill or seriously injure someone by drink or drug-driving, or you simply don’t care whether you hurt someone or not, think about whether you can afford to be caught?

"A conviction for drink or drug driving could mean a prison sentence, a driving ban, and an unlimited fine.”