DRINK is behind almost half of all crime in north Essex, a special Gazette investigation has revealed.

We looked at more than 120 cases brought before Colchester magistrates over the past fortnight.

More than 50 of them – more than 40 per cent – were alcohol-related.

Offences included:

  • Drink-driving
  • Drink-fuelled domestic violence
  • Drunken brawls
  • Attacks on the police
  • Alcohol theft The amount of drug-related crime was just a fraction of that related to drink.

Alcohol was a factor in a huge percentage of domestic assaults and public disorder offences.

One prosecutor said he thought drink and drugs combined were a factor in eight out of ten cases before the courts.

Drink-related crimes reported by the Gazette in just the past fortnight include: l A Clacton drink-driver who was caught a second time – just months after completing a special rehab course.

  • A Colchester chef who launched a drunken attack on his terrified girlfriend.
  • A Halstead dad who beat up his partner after coming home from the pub.
  • A teenage girl who bit a policeman’s arm outside a Colchester bar.
  • An 18-year-old alcoholic who went on a window-smashing spree in the town’s East Hill.
  • A woman who crashed her car while almost four times the drink-drive limit.
  • A man who threatened to shoot his wife’s puppy after downing vodka.

Offenders can be put on alcohol treatment programmes as part of their sentence if they admit having a serious alcohol problem.

The Gazette carried out the investigation after police warned that they were launching a crackdown on drink-fuelled violence in the run-up to Christmas.

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