A POLICE crackdown on drink driving has led to a string of convictions.

More than 195 arrests were made in Sussex by Surrey and Sussex Police’s Christmas crackdown on drink and drug-drivers.

Now more than 100 have so far been punished in court.

Among those caught out was refuse worker Matthew Schooley, 40, of Hallett Road, Brighton.

He was stopped by officers and arrested in Tenantry Down Road, Brighton, near to Elm Grove, on Christmas Eve for drink-driving with 111mcg of alcohol per 100ml of breath – more than three times the limit.

He appeared at Brighton Magistrates on May 11 where he was banned from driving for three months.

He was also ordered to pay a £450 fine, £250 costs and a £45 victim surcharge.

Also caught was retired 55-year-old Philip Bond, of Reigate Road, Brighton. He was arrested in Kingsway, Hove, on December 16 after driving with 141mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood in his body – nearly twice the limit.

After appearing at Brighton Magistrates’ Court on May 10 he was disqualified from driving for 17 months.

He was also forced to pay a £120 fine, £85 costs and £30 victim surcharge.

As reported in The Argus yesterday Stephen Slark, 40, a scrap metal dealer, of Butts Road, Southwick, was spotted by plain clothed police walking towards a van in Goldstone Villas, near Hove railway station.

He was then seen to drive the vehicle a short distance before he stopped and got out to meet a woman.

When he was approached by officers he made up an imaginary friend, John Smith, who he claimed was driving.

Slark was found to be over the limit and was sentenced to three months in prison suspended at Lewes Crown Court on April 20.

He was also ordered to pay £100 costs and a £115 victim surcharge.

Among the drivers found high on drugs was roofer Ryan Moore, 30, of Grafton Gardens, Lancing, who was caught driving on Littlehampton Road, Worthing, on cocaine and cannabis.

When he appeared at Worthing Magistrates’ Court on March 20, he was banned from driving for 12 months.

The roofer was also ordered to pay a £436 fine, £85 costs and £43 victim surcharge.

People in Sussex can text officers on 65999 with the details of people they suspect of drink or drug-driving, or visit the Operation Crackdown website.

You can also contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or report it online.

If you know someone is driving while over the

limit or after taking drugs, call 999.