A PENSIONER has been given a curfew after he crashed having driven more than three times over the legal drink-drive limit.  

Peter Merrifield, 65, a retired teacher, of Peak Lane in Kingston Gorse, will be tagged and not let out of his home after 9pm following the prang earlier in the month.

He was arrested following the prang in Station Road, East Preston, at 8.25pm on December 9.

Merrifield failed a roadside breath test and was charged with driving with 111mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath in his system - more than three times the legal limit of 35.

He pleaded guilty at Worthing Magistrates' Court on Tuesday and was also banned from driving for three years.

He was also sentenced to a community order which requires him to be electronically monitored until February 22 where he not be allowed out of his house between 9pm and 7am.

In addition, he was ordered to pay £85 in costs and a £60 victim surcharge.

Another drink-driver, who pulled out in front of police in Ferring, has also has received a three-year ban.

Debra Prince, 61, a marketing employee, of The Haven in Littlehampton, was arrested after carrying out the manoeuvre on the A259 at Ferring on 16 December 16, and charged with driving with 54mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath in her system.

She pleaded guilty at Crawley Magistrates' Court on December 17 and was also sentenced to an 18-month conditional discharge.

Unemployed Lee Errikson, 25, of Beckford Way in Maidenbower, Crawley, was arrested in Pearson Road in Pound Hill, Crawley, on December 5, and charged with failing to comply with a preliminary impairment test, failing to provide a specimen, driving with no licence, driving with no insurance and failing to surrender to custody.

He pleaded guilty at Brighton Magistrates' Court on Christmas Eve and was disqualified from driving for 12 months.

He was also ordered to pay a £500 fine, a £150 criminal courts charge, £85 costs and a £30 victim surcharge.

A total of 23 people have now been convicted for drink and drug-driving related offences in Sussex since Operation Dragonfly launched on December 1.

People in Sussex can text officers on 65999 with the details of people they suspect of drink or drug driving or visit www.operationcrackdown.co.uk.

You can also contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or visit www.crimestoppers-uk.org