Drink-driver led M4 police chase in careening HGV

ALORRY driver led police on a 20-mile chase down the M4 while four times over the drink-drive limit.

Andrew Jason Champion, from Rhych Avenue, Porthcawl, had drunk at least a quarter of a bottle of whisky before getting behind the wheel of an HGV in May this year, a court heard.

The 53-year-old, who admitted that he had problems with drinking, was spotted driving erratically by police on the motorway but failed to stop despite being followed by blue lights. After weaving along the carriageway, nearly hitting a broken-down vehicle on the hard shoulder and destroying traffic cones, Champion was eventually stopped by police using a stinger device.

The first police officer who spotted Champion described the driving as the worst he’d ever seen in his career. Recorder Mark Powell QC, who sentenced Champion at Newport Crown Court on Monday, told the driver it was only by “the grace of God” he had not killed anyone during the chase.

The court heard a PC Clifton had desperately tried to get Champion to pull over as he careened down the M4 towards Reading on May 6 this year. Byron Broadstock, for the prosecution, told the court the officer was too scared to drive alongside the HGV as it wove between lane one and the hard shoulder. PC Clifton instead remained behind as the HGV continued through the night.

Champion drove erratically for 20 miles, Mr Broadstock continued, with “multiple near-misses” of the roadside crash barrier and even taking out a row of traffic cones. The most dangerous miss was with a broken-down vehicle on the hard shoulder where Champion drove dangerously close to the car and the recovery vehicle in attendance.

Thames Valley Police took up position on the M4 and deployed a stinger to bring the chase, which never exceeded 56mph, to an end. Champion was breathalysed, giving a reading of 174mg, and officers also found a small quantity of cannabis in his cab. Mr Broadstock said when Champion emerged from his cab “his speech was slurred and he was unsteady on his feet”.

At the police station Champion was breathalysed again, exhaling 137mg. The legal limit is 35mg.

The driver, who is currently undergoing tests for cancer, pleaded guilty on August 23 to dangerous driving and driving while over the alcohol limit. Nik Strobl, defending, said Champion saw it as “the biggest mistake of his life”.

The defendant, a self-confessed alcoholic, said his drinking had spiralled out of control two years before when he found his friend’s body after he had killed himself. Things escalated when another friend died and Champion’s marriage began to break down.

Recorder Powell QC was unsympathetic, and told him: “Frankly, you had no business taking a job in those circumstances.”

Champion has a number of previous driving convictions. Recorder Powell sentenced Champion to a total of 14 months in prison.

Champion will have to serve half his sentence in custody before being released on licence. He was also disqualified from driving for four years and seven months beginning from August 23, 2021, when the initial disqualification was imposed. He will also have to take an extended driving test before he can regain his licence.

Thames Valley Police declined to release a custody image of the defendant.