Disqualified drink-driver was more than three times over the limit

A disqualified driver, who was found to be more than three times over the drink drive limit, has been jailed for 28 weeks.

At about 7pm on Sunday, August 25, officers from the Force’s Roads Policing Team spotted a white Nissan Juke car which appeared to have broken down on the southbound carriageway of the A43, near Walgrave.

Concerned it was parked dangerously, they turned round and pulled up behind it. However, as an officer approached the car, the driver – 43-year-old Titus Marume – drove off.

As they followed him, he was witnessed swerving across the road and at one point crossed over into the opposite carriageway causing the driver of an oncoming HGV to brake sharply to avoid a head-on collision.

Officers activated the blue lights on their marked police car indicating for Marume to stop, but he continued for a short distance before eventually pulling over. He was arrested on suspicion of drink driving after failing a roadside breath test.

Marume went on to be charged with driving a motor vehicle when alcohol level above the limit he provided an evidential reading of 132 micrograms of alcohol in 100ml breath. The legal limit is 35mg.

Routine checks on the police national computer flagged that he was also banned from driving until April 2027, and he was further charged with both driving while disqualified and driving without third party insurance.

At Northampton Magistrates’ Court on Monday, August 26, Marume, of Panama Gardens in Houghton Regis, Bedfordshire, pleaded guilty to all offences.

He was sentenced to a total of 28 weeks in prison, which included the activation of a 14-week suspended prison sentence issued at Coventry & Warwickshire Magistrates’ Court on April 17 when he pleaded guilty to failing to provide a specimen for analysis.

In addition to the imprisonment, he was also handed an extended driving disqualification of five years and ordered to pay £154 victim surcharge and £85 court costs.

If you suspect someone is driving while disqualified or under the influence of alcohol, report it online or call Northamptonshire Police on 101. Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Always call 999 in the event of an emergency, such as a crime in progress or where life is at risk.