Man drove drunk with children in car

A man who crashed his car while drink driving with his children in the back has been banned and given a suspended prison sentence.

Shahzad Nawaz, 47, crashed his BMW in Park Road, Peterborough, at about 7pm on 16 March.

Witnesses said Nawaz had been driving too fast, before crashing into trees, road signs and finally a wall.

Officers attended and a woman was taken to hospital with a serious, but not life-threatening, injury while the three children were taken to hospital with minor injuries.

Nawaz, of Broadway, Peterborough, blew more than double the legal limit for alcohol at the roadside and was arrested.

He pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and drink driving and was sentenced on Thursday (4 December) at Cambridge Crown Court to 12 months imprisonment, suspended for two years.

He was handed a 12-month driving ban, with an extended retest, ordered to complete 100 hours unpaid work and pay £1187 in costs.

PC Sam Dane, from the Road Policing Unit, said: “Driving while under the influence of drink is irresponsible but to do so with your own children in the car is beyond belief.

“This crash could have ended far worse for all concerned.”

The Road Policing Unit will be conducting increased patrols throughout December and the festive season, proactively stopping vehicles and conducting breathalyser tests. If you’re going out make sure to plan how you’re getting home.

Drunk BMW driver completely wrecks car, with his children in the back