Driver, 62, was nearly four times legal limit

Woman with pushchair had to jump to avoid being hit by car

A DRINK-driver nearly ran down a woman with a pushchair as he careered through Hungerford.

The woman had to jump to avoid the Great Bedwyn motorist as his Volkswagen mounted the kerb.

Earlier, the 62-year-old had been seen swerving across all three lanes of the M4 motorway, almost causing a number of collisions with other vehicles.

Richard Carlisle, of Brook Street, was later found to have drunk nearly four times the legal limit.

On Saturday, March 20, he appeared for sentencing at Swindon Magistrates’ Court in Wiltshire.

The court was told that another motorist on the westbound carriageway of the M4 was so alarmed by what he was seeing that he followed Mr Carlisle as he left the motorway and drove through Hungerford.

The witness followed Carlisle home and waited until police arrived.

Mr Carlisle admitted driving after drinking more than the legal limit on Thursday, March 18.

Tests showed 130mcg of alcohol per 100ml of breath in his system. The legal limit is 35mcg.

He has no previous convictions. Mr Carlisle was sentenced to 16 weeks imprisonment, suspended for two years.

In addition he was ordered to pay £85 costs, plus a statutory victim services surcharge of £128 and ordered to complete 200 hours unpaid community work.

Finally, Mr Carlisle was banned from driving for 34 months.

Afterwards, Pc Ben Cox, from Wiltshire Police roads policing unit, said: “This quick-thinking member of the public called police because they were concerned about the erratic manner of driving, and then followed the vehicle to ensure officers were able to detain Carlisle.

“It goes without saying that driving while over the legal limit is incredibly dangerous, but when someone is almost four times over the limit, the risk is extremely high and it was very lucky that Carlisle was not involved in a serious collision.

“We would always urge people to report suspicious driving to us, so we can take action and make our roads safer.”

He added: “If you are suspicious that someone is regularly driving dangerously or under the influence of alcohol, then call 101 and give as much information as possible, including the driver’s details or description and their car registration.

“If you believe that a crime is being committed and somebody is already behind the wheel then please call 999.”