Ford Transit driver avoids immediate jail for M5 erratic drink driving

Evan Ffrench was close to four times the legal limit after drinking vodka before erratically driving on the motorway and hitting another car on March 31 this year. 

Owen Beale, prosecuting, said at 2pm that day police received reports that a Ford Transit van was being driven poorly on the M42 and the M5. 

Mr Beale said Ffrench hit cones before clipping the wing mirror off another vehicle. 

The prosecutor said, between Junction 7 and 8 of the motorway: "Members of the public were so concerned they forced his vehicle to stop on the hard shoulder before police arrested him. 

COURT: Evan Ffrench leaving Worcester Magistrates Court (Image: Sam Greenway/Newsquest)

"It is clear there was an unacceptable standard of driving."

Mr Beale said Ffrench was taken to the police station where he provided an evidential sample of 121mcg in 100ml of breath - the legal limit being 35mcg.

The prosecutor added the offence and the aggravating features placed it firmly in the top tier of the magistrates' sentencing guidelines which attracted a potential prison sentence.

Ffrench admitted drink driving when he appeared at the court on Thursday, (April 20), 

Paul Stanley, defending, said Ffrench, whose work involved highway maintenance, had a "bad day" when the defendant made a "momentous mistake". 

"He had been drinking because of the upset of his relationship coming to an end," Mr Beale said. 

"He heard about it on his shift. That was the catalyst.

MOTORWAY: M5 (Image: Newsquest)

"His whole world was turned upside down.

"His concern first and foremost is about his liberty."

Mr Stanley said the dad-of-two, of Walnut Drive, Smethwick, had no previous convictions and would now lose his job due to the inevitable driving ban he would receive.

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The solicitor added no one had been hurt in the offence. 

Magistrates retired and on returning to the courtroom chairman of the bench, Kevin Lloyd-Wright told Ffrench the offences were so serious it had to be a custodial sentence. 

CASE: Evan Ffrench's case was heard at Worcester Magistrates Court

"You had to be brought to a stop by members of the public, so worried were they," the chairman said. 

"You are now coming to realise what a stupid, very serious mistake you made."

Ffrench was jailed for 10 weeks, suspended for a year.

The defendant was ordered to complete 80 hours of unpaid work. 

Ffrench was disqualified from driving for 30 months but was offered the drink-drive awareness course to reduce the ban length. 

Ffrench was also ordered to pay £154 victim surcharge and £135 court costs.