A driver who crashed after downing brandy and taking drugs had been warned by police not to get behind the wheel less than an hour earlier.

The driver, Darrell Jacob, 41, of South Coast Road, Peacehaven, crashed into metal railings which blocked the road on the A259, near Roedean Cafe, on Tuesday at 12.50pm.

Jacob told police he had been drinking brandy and had consumed Diazepam. He was taken to the hospital but refused to provide a blood sample.

He was then arrested and charged with failing to provide a blood sample when suspected of driving under the influence.

Jacob was further charged with two counts of possession of knives in a public place, after two kitchen knives were discovered in his car.

He came to the attention of police less than an hour before the crash. Officers were carrying out a welfare check on a woman at a house nearby.

Jacob was present and appeared intoxicated. His car was parked outside and police warned him not to drive his car. The car was placed on the police’s Automatic Number Plate Recognition camera – and it was found crashed a short time later.

Jacob appeared at Brighton Magistrates’ Court the following day where he was convicted of all three offences. He was sentenced to eight weeks’ imprisonment, suspended for 12 months, and disqualified from driving for 30 months. He was also ordered to pay £85 costs and a £115 victim surcharge.