HGV driver was five times over limit on motorway

A lorry driver who drank half a bottle of vodka before taking an HGV onto a motorway has been jailed.

Dainius Juodis was found to be nearly five times over the drink-drive limit when police eventually stopped him on the M23 at Pease Pottage, West Sussex.

Juodis, who is 50 and from Worcester Park in south London, admitted drink driving when he appeared at Crawley Magistrates' Court on Monday.

He was jailed for three months and banned from driving for five years.

A Sussex Police tactical firearms unit on routine patrol spotted the lorry swerving as it drove on the motorway about 01:00 GMT on 11 January.

He initially ignored the patrol car's blue lights, only stopping four miles further down the motorway.

Insp Mark Robinson said: "This was a shocking incident, with a lorry driver found nearly five times over the legal alcohol limit.

"Officers had to contend with keeping the public safe while a large vehicle was failing to stop, which posed a high risk to other road users as well as to the safety of the officers.

"Juodis eventually stopped in a live lane of the motorway, which required our officers to close four lanes of the carriageway in order to safely arrest him."

A charge of failing to stop was later withdrawn.

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