A man has been jailed for four months after driving home in his car at more than twice the legal drink-drive limit.

Chelmsford Magistrates' Court heard yesterday how Anthony Crumlish, 47, of Warwick Drive, Maldon, had admitted a charge of driving with excess alcohol at an earlier hearing in January.

Verity Evetts, prosecuting, said Crumlish had been to London on January 21 to collect wages as part of his job as a fire alarm engineer and on his return caught a train to Witham. He then took a taxi to Hatfield Peverel station where he had left his Ford Galaxy and decided to drive home.

However he was stopped by police and asked to provide a breath test. His sample showed 81mcgs of alcohol in 100mls of breath. The legal limit is 35mcgs.

Mark Salter, mitigating, said: "My client was unable to catch a train back from London Liverpool Street to Hatfield Peverel during the late evening so he was forced to go to Witham instead.

"He had about four pints of lager on the day and admits he has a drink problem.

Chairman of the bench, Ian Fuller, sentenced Crumlish to four months in jail and handed him a four-year disqualification from driving.

Published Tuesday, February 22, 2005

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