Tractor diver five times over the limit
Jail for drunk-driver caught by police
A MAN is behind bars after he was caught behind the wheel of a vintage tractor while five times over the drink-drive limit.
Leicestershire Police caught Ben Dickens at the wheel of a farm vehicle in Earl Shilton on Tuesday afternoon (March 21) and swiftly brought him before a court which jailed him for 18 weeks.
His reading was almost five times the legal alcohol limit of 35 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath.
Graham Compton, Leicestershire Police’s road safety officer, said: “It’s almost unbelievable - with that reading I’m not sure how anyone could be standing up, let alone driv- ing a vehicle.
“In fact, I can’t recall a reading like that in all my years.”
He was detained by officers from Hinckley police station after he was spotted at the wheel of the tractor in Peggs Close.
Dickens, 36, of Hinckley Road, Leicester Forest East, was sentenced at Leicester Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (March 23).
As well as 18 weeks in prison he was also disqualified from driving for five years.
Mr Compton added: “The drinking and driving laws apply to anyone driving any type of motor vehicle on the road.
“This is an odd case, but the dangers of drinking and driving are there for all to see and our officers are out every day testing people.”
As well as the drink driving offence, Dickens was also charged with driving without insurance and driving while disqualified.
Officers at Hinckley police station posted brief details of the case on Facebook at the weekend, including a photograph of the tractor.
In their post, the officers said: “On Tuesday March 14, the driver of this tractor was arrested on suspicion of drink driving.
“He was subsequently charged with drink driving, driving without a licence and driving without valid insurance.
“He was almost five times over the drink drive limit.
“He was placed before a court and sentenced to 18 weeks in prison and banned from driving for five years.”