Drink-driver banned after 'dangerous' M5 incident

A man has been banned from driving for 17 months after being caught "driving dangerously" on a motorway while around twice the legal alcohol limit, police said

Enock Chitsara, 42 and from Carmarthenshire, was arrested in the early hours of 17 August after a member of the public called police to say he was swerving on the M5 near Bridgwater.

A breath test carried out in custody then showed a reading of 60 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath, almost twice the legal limit, said police.

PC Jack Keane, from Avon and Somerset Police, said: "The actions of this driver posed a significant risk to everyone else using the motorway that night."

A force spokesperson added that he was spotted driving dangerously on the M5 by officers who observed him veering between lanes and braking unpredictably.

After the initial call by a member of the public, Chitsara was spotted by police near junction 22 of the M5 northbound.

Officers watched him veering between lanes and braking unpredictably, at one point slowing to 28mph, said the force.

Pulling him over at Gordano Services, they then noticed he appeared drowsy and smelt strongly of alcohol.

As well as being disqualified from driving for 17 months, he has also been ordered to pay £556 in fines.

PC Keane added: "Thankfully, information provided by a member of the public allowed officers to intervene and remove him from the road."

The officer said drink and drug driving "puts lives at risk", adding "there is simply no excuse for getting behind the wheel while impaired".

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