AN ADMINISTRATION assistant was stopped for drink driving after pulling out of a pub in front of a police car on his birthday.

Gustavo Capitao failed to provide a breath test or blood test when required to do so by officers when he was stopped in Brighton Road in Crawley during a festive crackdown.

The 37-year-old, was in a black Mercedes, but has now been banned for two years and ordered to complete 80 hours of unpaid work at Crawley Magistrates’ Court.

Capitao, of Farmleigh Close in Crawley, had been celebrating his birthday with pals at a nearby pub.

He was ordered to pay £85 court costs and an £85 victim surcharge.

Police said: “He came to officers' attention after the black Mercedes he was driving pulled out in front of a police car and swerved across the road.

“When he was stopped and questioned, he admitted he had been celebrating his birthday by drinking at the pub.”

He was one of 240 motorists arrested over the festive period during a police crackdown on drink and drug drivers.

Builder Philip Bultitude was among those stopped when he was found to be more than four times over the legal alcohol limit.

The 36-year-old, of Browns Lane in Uckfield had 148 microgrammes (mcg) of alcohol per 100 millilitres (ml) of breath in his system. The legal limit is 35mcg per 100ml.

He was banned for 32 months and ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid work in the next year, and must also pay £85 court costs and a £85 victim surcharge.

Meanwhile 37-year-old Russell Jones was stopped in London Road in Brighton. He had 81mcg of alcohol per 100ml of breath in his system.

He was also driving while disqualified and driving without insurance.

At Crawley Magistrates Court he was handed a six-week suspended prison sentence and told to complete 160 hours of unpaid work.

The manager, of Church Walk in Brighton, was banned from driving for four years and four months, and was ordered to pay £85 court costs and a £115 victim surcharge.

Drink-drivers face an immediate ban, an unlimited fine, unpaid work, and even prison.