Exclusive:Man arrested three times for drink driving in three months spared jail by Portsmouth judge
“Three offences, three months, three pieces of bad driving,” the judge said.
A repeat drink driver who wrapped a car around a lamppost and drove dangerously on the M27 has avoided being sent to prison.
Valentin Vorobjov committed three drink driving offences in the first three months of this year, a court was told, leaving a trail of destruction in his wake.
The 42-year-old, from Lower Brownhill Road, Southampton, crashed his car in Southsea, caused an incident on the M271 near Nursling, and drove dangerously on the M275 in Portsmouth - all while over the limit for alcohol.
Portsmouth Magistrates Court heard how on January 24, Vorobjov crashed his Audi A4 into a lamppost in Victoria Road North, Southsea. Police were called and Vorobjov was found to be over the drink driving limit. He was arrested, but released on bail.
While on bail, he then caused an accident on the M271 on February 22, at the southbound exit slip road for Nursling. This time, he was driving an Audi A6. Police attended again and Vorobjov was over the limit - but was again released on bail.
On March 29, police received reports of a motorist, again in an Audi A6, speeding and undertaking cars on the M27 eastbound. Vorobjov was stopped by officers on the M275, tested positive for alcohol and arrested once more.
The defendant was found guilty of the first offence, and pleaded guilty to the other two. He has a previous conviction for drug driving, the court was told.
Tim Sparkes, defending Vorobjov, said: “These offences certainly cross the custody threshold.
“It’s a strange set of circumstances - if only the police had brought him into court from custody. You cannot criticise the police, but there you are.
“The sentence should be suspended with some rehabilitation activity days for treatment. Making it a suspended sentence for a long time would keep it hanging over his head.”
Sentencing, deputy district Judge Brown said: “Three offences, three months, three pieces of bad driving. Some people would say, if you don’t go to prison for this, then who would?
“I am going to send you to prison - the only question is whether I can suspend it. In the circumstances of your case, I propose to suspend the matter, but I am disqualifying you from driving for five years.”
Vorobjov was sentenced to four months in custody, suspended for 12 months, with 20 rehabilitation days and 100 hours of unpaid work - plus court costs of £650.
“Do not come back before this court,” Judge Brown added. “We don’t want to see you again.”