Driver caught drunk behind the wheel while disqualified

A man has been caught drunk behind the wheel while disqualified.

Police were on patrol in the Arbury area of Cambridge on Sunday evening when their attention was drawn to a silver Audi A4.

Checks revealed it wasn’t insured so the officers stopped it on Leys Road where driver, Deepu Joseph, provided a breath sample of 87, more than double the legal limit of 35 microgrammes per 100 millilitres of breath.

Joseph, 30, of Hurst Park Avenue, Cambridge, refused to provide an evidential breath specimen in custody and further checks revealed he was previously disqualified from driving for 20 months in October for drink driving, driving without insurance and a licence.

At Cambridge Magistrates’ Court yesterday (30 July), Joseph was disqualified from driving for three years after pleading guilty to driving without insurance, driving whilst disqualified and failing to provide a specimen for analysis. He was also given a 90 day alcohol abstinence requirement and must carry out 100 hours unpaid work.

PC Sam Butler, from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Road Policing Unit, said: “Joseph has shown complete disregard for the law and the safety of other road users. We are committed to keeping our roads safe and will continue to take action against anyone like Joseph who demonstrates such reckless behaviour.”

Cambridgeshire Constabulary operate a confidential 24/7 hotline for drink and drug drivers on 0800 032 0845.