Disqualified driver who was more than four times over the drink drive limit is jailed

A disqualified driver who was caught behind the wheel more than four times over the drink drive limit has been jailed for 22 weeks.

A member of the public called Northamptonshire Police to report a suspected drink driver in Barrack Road in Northampton’s Castle Ward, shortly before 2.30pm on Thursday, August 17.

Officers from the Force’s Roads Policing Team were deployed to the incident and stopped 29-year-old Jevgenijs Jermolajevs driving a silver Chrysler in nearby Military Road and conducted a roadside breath test.

Jermolajevs registered an astonishing 155 breath reading - more than four times the legal limit which is 35 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath, and he was arrested on suspicion of drink driving.

However, once in police custody he refused to provide a specimen for analysis, assaulted two emergency workers in the course of their duties and subsequent checks also established that Jermolajevs was disqualified from driving.

He was subsequently charged with failing to provide a specimen for analysis, driving while disqualified, assault by beating of an emergency worker, common assault of an emergency worker and driving with no insurance.

Last Wednesday (September 13), Jermolajevs was sentenced to a total of 22 weeks in prison at Northampton Magistrates’ Court, after pleading guilty to all five offences at an earlier hearing. He was also ordered to pay £250 in compensation and disqualified from driving for a further 39 months.

After sentencing, Sergeant Cave of the Roads Policing Team, said: “Drink driving is one of the main contributors in collisions and is one of the fatal five driving offences, and we sadly see the devastating effects this can have.

“Jevgenijs Jermolajevs clearly has a total disregard for the sanctions imposed by the court previously, and knowingly not only got behind the wheel while disqualified but also while over the alcohol limit.

“Our priority remains to ensure that everyone arrives home safely and hopefully this sentence will act as a deterrent and show that together with the courts, we will take robust action to remove those who prevent a serious risk to others from our roads.”

Tragically in 2022, after being involved in a road collision in Northamptonshire, 36 people never returned home safely to their loved ones, and 347 required urgent medical assistance for serious and life-changing injuries.

To report suspected drink or drug driving in confidence, call the Drivewatch Hotline on 0800 174615 or dial 101. In an emergency, call 999.