A DRUNK driver was caught after he asked police to help him jump-start his car.

A police patrol found a Vauxhall Astra belonging to Lewis Hines at the Bridge Road roundabout on the A259 at Climping at 1.35am on Boxing Day.

The 24-year-old asked the officers to jump start his car.

However, the officers became suspicious because Hines was slurring his words and his car was found in the middle of the roundabout.

Instead they breathalysed him and found he was almost twice the drink-drive limit, so he was arrested.

Hines, of Horsham Road, Littlehampton, pleaded guilty to drink-driving when he appeared at Crawley Magistrates' Court on January 7.

He was banned from driving for 17 months, fined £350 and told to pay a £35 victim surcharge and £85 costs.

Before Christmas, police were called after Tesco staff refused to sell Maxine Withall, 48, bottles of wine at a Tesco Express in Flansham Lane, Felpham, near Bognor, at 9.30pm on December 17.

The shop staff told police they thought she was drunk while driving and officers stopped her from starting her car to drive away.

Tests later proved Withall was three times the drink-drive limit.

Withall, of Sloe Gardens, Bognor Regis, pleaded guilty to drink-driving when she appeared at Crawley Magistrates' Court on January 7.

She was banned from driving for 24 months, made the subject of a community order and told to pay a £60 victim surcharge and £85 costs.

In nearby Chichester, Richard Pooles, 59, was arrested at 7.35pm on December 28 after he lost control of his car on the A286 Birdham Road.

He went off the road and into a field.

Pooles, of Lauderdale Drive, Richmond, Surrey, pleaded guilty to drink-driving when he appeared at Crawley Magistrates' Court on January 8.

He was banned from driving for 17 months, fined £270 and told to pay a £27 victim surcharge and £85 costs.

A total of 30 people have so far been convicted of offences as part of Sussex Police’s December campaign, forming part of Operation Dragonfly.

Police have told people to call 999 if they know someone who is driving while over the limit.