School taxi driver caught drink driving in Bury St Edmundshttps://www.eadt.co.uk/news/25916137.sc ... t-edmunds/A taxi driver was caught drink driving while on a school run.
Jonathan Drew, 58, from Upper Road, Little Cornard, was found to be more than three times the legal limit.
He was sentenced at Suffolk Magistrates’ Court on Friday, February 27 and banned from driving for three years.
He was also handed a £7,500 fine, a £2,000 victim surcharge, and ordered to pay £85 in costs.
At a previous hearing on February 13, Drew pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol and was given an interim driving ban ahead of sentencing.
The incident took place at around 3.40pm on February 12, in a car park on Grove Road, Bury St Edmunds, where Drew was collecting students as part of his school transport duties.
As he approached the entrance, Drew collided with another vehicle and failed to stop.
The other driver turned around and followed him into the car park to confront him about the incident.
Upon speaking to Drew, the driver immediately noticed the smell of alcohol and called police, blocking the taxi to stop him from leaving.
Officers arrived at the scene and Drew failed a roadside breath test, recording a reading of 144 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath—more than four times the legal limit of 35 microgrammes.
He was arrested and taken to Bury St Edmunds Police Investigation Centre, where he later provided an evidential sample of breath of 124mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath, which is 3.5 times the legal limit.
Drew was subsequently charged and remanded to appear in court the following day.
The case left officers "shocked," particularly given that Drew was transporting children at the time of the offence.
The driver who intervened and prevented Drew from leaving the car park was praised for their quick thinking.
Officers say the consequences for Drew serve as a warning to others about the serious risks and penalties associated with drink driving.
Drew’s conviction and lengthy ban mean he can no longer work as a taxi driver, effectively ending his career.
The case serves as a stark reminder of the responsibilities held by professional drivers, particularly those transporting vulnerable passengers like children.
PC Wayne Sturman, of the Commercial Vehicle Unit (CVU), said: "I was incredibly shocked when informed of this case – in our roles as CVU officers we have encountered all manner of offences committed by people who we regard as ‘professional drivers’, but I have to say this is one of the most shocking.
"Drink-driving is incredibly dangerous – especially when you are that many times over the limit.
"But to then drive a taxi when you will be transporting children is reckless beyond belief.
"We are very grateful to the member of the public for their quick actions on that day – calling police immediately and preventing him from continuing to drive his taxi.
"The ramifications for Jonathan Drew now are that he has lost his livelihood and I hope the length of the ban and the significant financial penalties imposed act as a deterrent to other drivers."
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