Drink driver who had child in vehicle disqualified from driving for three years
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A man caught drink driving with a young child in the back of his vehicle has been disqualified from driving for three years.
John Zuuri, 37, of Avon Road, Tidworth, pleaded guilty to drink driving, driving whilst uninsured and drunk in charge of a child, when he appeared at Salisbury Magistrates Court on Friday (3/12).
On October 22, an off duty police officer observed Zuuri’s manner of driving along the A342 at Everleigh. Zuuri pulled over to urinate, and the officer managed to stop him driving off and waited for uniformed officers to arrive. A roadside breath test was carried out and he was found to be over the drink drive limit.
Officers discovered a young child in the vehicle, and Zuuri was arrested.
Sgt James Osment said: “Driving whilst under the influence of alcohol is completely unacceptable but drink driving whilst carrying a child in the vehicle is absolutely inexcusable.
“Zuuri’s ability to drive having consumed this amount of alcohol was seriously impeded and as a result he put himself, the child in the vehicle and other road users and pedestrians at risk. It just does not bear thinking about what could have happened if officers had not stopped Zuuri.”
As well as the disqualification, Zuuri was also given a two year community order, ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work, and fined £750.
The national drink and drug drive campaign led by the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) runs throughout December, raising awareness of the potential dangers and consequences of drink and drug driving.
Throughout the month-long campaign, Wiltshire Police’s Roads Policing Unit will be supported by Community Policing Teams across Wiltshire and Swindon to carry out increased patrols and operational activity, conduct high profile and intelligence-led traffic stops, and target those motorists who pose a huge risk to themselves and the lives of other road users.
If you are worried that someone is driving under the influence of drink or drugs call 101 and select option 2 for the Drink Drive hotline, or make a report using the Wiltshire Police website: https://crowd.in/aVrc8I
In an emergency, dial 999.