Drink driver smashes into school gates minutes before playtime jailed

Graham Stewart Thompson, 55, was nearly four times over the legal drink drive limit when his van smashed though the school gates at Barcombe Primary School on Thursday.

Children as young as four were yards away from the drunken motorist as he crashed through the school gates, spun out of control in the playground and ploughed into a wall, completely destroying it.

The incident happened at about 10am, minutes before children were due to be sent outside for their morning break.

Headteacher Stewart James criticised Thompson’s 12-week jail sentence, saying it did not represent the severity of what he had done and that he should never be allowed to get behind the wheel of a car again.

He said: “What he did was completely unacceptable and they should have given him a sentence that reflects the potential horror that could have been. It was shocking.

“It was a really concerning incident and everyone at the school did a tremendous job to make sure the children kept calm and safe, and allowed the emergency services to carry out their work.

“He came straight through the iron gates and through the playground and then spun in a semi circle before going straight into a thick school wall.

“Thankfully, there were no children on the playground.

“This kind of incident is a complete freak, but this person should not be driving a car.

“I have to say the children and staff were exemplary in staying calm.

“The school’s business manager saw it, and we have an emergency system that kicks in to place whereby the police are called.”

Thompson, who was remanded in custody after his arrest Thursday, was sent to prison for 12 weeks and banned from driving for 61 months at Brighton Magistrate’s Court yesterday.

He was charged with driving with 121mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath in his system.

The legal limit is 35mg.

There was also a £80 victim surcharge he was ordered to pay, which the court said was paid by his time in custody.