Unhappy meal for drink-driver arrested at McDonald’s

A drink-driver had an unhappy meal after he was arrested by police at McDonald’s.

Tadhg Ryan had driven to Brighton Marina while more than FOUR TIMES the legal limit – and with a three-year-old girl in the back seat.

He is among the latest nine people to be convicted in court following our Christmas crackdown on drink and drug-driving.

A total of 279 people were arrested during the operation, which ran from 1 December to 1 January.

Of these, so far 56 have been convicted. These are the latest individuals to have lost their licence:

• Lisa Cranney, 40, an admin assistant, of Reid Crescent, Hellingly, was arrested in Harebeating Drive, Hailsham, on 5 December and charged with driving with 70 micrograms of alcohol per 100ml breath. At Hastings Magistrates’ Court on 18 February, she was disqualified from driving for 22 months. She was also fined £537, and ordered to pay £85 costs a £215 victim surcharge.
   
• Talia Butchers, 27, a waitress, of Whatlington Way, St Leonards, was arrested in White Rock, Hastings, on 7 December, and charged with driving with 100 micrograms of alcohol per 100ml breath and driving with no insurance. At Hastings Magistrates’ Court on 18 February, she was disqualified from driving for 12 months. She was also fined £126, and ordered to pay £85 costs a £50 victim surcharge.
   
• Darren Corke, 52, an optician, of Farmlands Close, St Leonards, was arrested in Upper Park Road, St Leonards, on 7 December and charged with driving with 91 micrograms of alcohol per 100ml breath. At Hastings Magistrates’ Court on 18 February, he was disqualified from driving for 23 months. He was also fined £369, and ordered to pay £85 costs a £148 victim surcharge.
   
• Jake Dobson, 25, unemployed, of Warren Road, Crowborough, was arrested in Beacon Road, Crowborough, on 7 December and charged with driving with 92 micrograms of alcohol per 100ml breath. At Hastings Magistrates’ Court on 18 February, he was disqualified from driving for 23 months. He was also fined £120, and ordered to pay £85 costs a £48 victim surcharge.
   
• Tadhg Ryan, 36, self-employed, of Brighton Marina Village, was arrested at Brighton Marina on 10 December, and charged with driving with 145 micrograms of alcohol per 100ml breath and being drunk in charge of a child. At Brighton Magistrates’ Court on 20 February, he was disqualified from driving for 30 months and sentenced to a 12-month community order, requiring him to complete an alcohol abstinence programme. He was also ordered to pay £85 costs a £114 victim surcharge.
   
• Hayley Widdows, 49, unemployed, of Sedlescombe Road North, St Leonards, was arrested in White Rock, Hastings, on 18 December and charged with driving with 47 micrograms of alcohol per 100ml breath. At Hastings Magistrates’ Court on 25 February, she was disqualified from driving for 12 months. He was also fined £120, and ordered to pay £85 costs a £48 victim surcharge.
   
• Prashanth Arumugasamy, 39, a retail employee, of Potter Close, Mitcham, was arrested on the A27 at Albourne on 25 December and charged with driving with 154 micrograms of alcohol per 100ml breath. At Crawley Magistrates’ Court on 27 February, he was disqualified from driving for 60 months and sentenced to a 12-month community order, requiring him to complete 200 hours of unpaid work. He was also ordered to pay £85 costs a £114 victim surcharge.
   
• Antony Price, 61, unemployed, of no fixed address, was arrested in Nyetimber Lane, Pagham, on 27 December and charged with being in charge of a vehicle with 114 micrograms of alcohol per 100ml breath. At Worthing Magistrates’ Court on 17 February, he was disqualified from driving for six months. He was also fined £120, and ordered to pay £85 costs a £48 victim surcharge.
   
• Alec Young, 43, a driver, of Flamingo Close, Chatham, was arrested in Preston Road, Brighton, on 30 December, and charged with driving with 65 micrograms of alcohol per 100ml breath and driving with no insurance. At Brighton Magistrates’ Court on 12 February, he was disqualified from driving for 18 months. He was also fined £120, and ordered to pay £85 costs a £48 victim surcharge.

In keeping with previous years, we will continue to publicly identify anyone convicted of drink or drug-driving as part of this campaign to raise awareness of the issue and to act as a deterrent to others from committing the same offence.

The consequences of drink or drug-driving could include:

• Killing or seriously injuring yourself or someone else;
• A minimum 12-month ban;
• An unlimited fine;
• A possible prison sentence;
• A criminal record, which could affect your current and future employment;
• An increase in your car insurance costs;
• Difficulty travelling to countries such as the USA.

If you know someone is driving while over the limit or after taking drugs, call 999.

You can also contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or report it online.