A COVENTRY drink-driver who had a lucky escape on the A46 after being two-and-a-half the legal limit has been banned from the roads for 60 months.
Officers from Warwickshire Police spotted 60-year-old Rajinder Kumar from Marconi Close driving his blue Dacia on June 3 on the outskirts of the city.
His 4pm rush hour antics were reported by several members of the public.
Officers attended and witnessed him swerving from lanes one to three before hitting the central reservation.
Rajinder was arrested at the scene and provided a positive breath test which showed him to be more than twice the legal limit.
Whilst in custody, enquiries revealed his licence had expired in 2018 and he was charged with both drink-driving and driving without a licence.
Warwickshire Magistrates yesterday sentenced him to the five-year ban and he was ordered to complete 200 hours unpaid work and to pay £249 in costs.
SC Matt Mcleod said: “There is no doubt that Rajinder Kumar and everyone else driving on the A46 near Coventry that day had a lucky escape.
“Fortunately he collided with the central reservation, but it could have been much worse if he had collided with another vehicle.
“Road safety is not down to luck. Individuals who drive a motor vehicle whilst over the prescribed limit of alcohol are a blight on society, raising insurance premiums and endangering the lives of innocent members of the public.
“Positive action must be taken in order to send a message to those that think it is acceptable and in order to protect people from harm.”
He thanked the members of the public who reported Kumar who, he said, possibly preventing the incident from being much worse.
