Drink driver banned after being found '˜slumped at the wheel' of Mercedes in Brighton

Officers were called to the incident in Black Lion Street at 4.17am on Saturday, July 14, where they discovered a driver asleep in his black Mercedes with the engine running.

Police said the man was identified as James Bennir, 35, a refuse worker, of Bullrush Close, Croydon. He failed a roadside breath test, and was subsequently arrested and charged with driving with 93mcg of alcohol per 100ml of breath in his system, police said.

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Officers had been alerted to the incident by a member of the public.

Sussex Police said Bennir was sentenced at Brighton Magistrates’ Court on September 27, and he was banned from driving for 23 months, and told to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work. He was also ordered to pay a £148 fine, £225 costs and a £30 victim surcharge, police said.

Bennir was among 161 motorists arrested in Sussex during Surrey and Sussex Police’s summer crackdown on drink and drug-driving, which ran from June 14 to July 15.

Of those, a total of 75 have so far been convicted; the remaining have either been charged, released under investigation or released without charge.

Sussex Police warmed those who drive under the influence of drink or drugs, that if convicted they could receive:

- A minimum 12-month ban

- An unlimited fine

- A possible prison sentence

- A criminal record, which could affect your current and future employment

- An increase in your car insurance;

- Trouble travelling to countries such as the USA

People in Sussex can text officers on 65999 with the details of people they suspect of drink or drug-driving, or visit the Operation Crackdown website.

If you know someone is driving while over the limit or after taking drugs, call 999.