Man sentenced for operating HGV whilst intoxicated

A man from Runcorn has been jailed for 12 weeks after operating a HGV whilst under the influence of alcohol. 

Sergejus Indrisiunas appeared at Chester Magistrates' Court on Thursday 17 October, where he was sentenced to 12 weeks imprisonment after pleading guilty to drink driving.

The court heard that on Wednesday 16 October, police in Runcorn received a report that a HGV driver had arrived to collect stock at an industrial site in Runcorn whilst intoxicated.

Officers attended the scene on Hardwick Road, Runcorn, and stopped a Scania articulated lorry that was being driven by Indrisiunas, and conducted a roadside breath test.

The 57-year-old provided a positive result and was subsequently arrested on suspicion of drink driving.

In custody, Indrisiunas took a second test which revealed he was over three times above the legal limit of alcohol - with the reading showing he had 120 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath.

Indrisiunas was subsequently charged and remanded in custody before he was put before Chester Magistrates' Court on Thursday 17 October and sentenced to 12 weeks in prison.

He was also disqualified from driving for three years and ordered to pay a £154 surcharge.

Following sentencing, PC Nathan Holland of Runcorn Response said:

"I dread to think what could have happened if we had not have stopped Indrisiunas and he had continued driving on the road with other motorists whilst behind the wheel of such a large vehicle.

"Drink driving is one of the fatal five offences, meaning it is a leading contributor to death and serious injury on the roads in England and Wales.

"Cheshire police will not tolerate anyone driving on the roads whilst over the specified limit of drink or drugs, least of all those who are supposed to be professional drivers in large articulated lorries such as Indrisiunas'."

Anyone who gets behind the wheel of a vehicle should familiarise themselves with the 'Fatal Five' offences, in order to minimise the risk of any accidents occurring on the county's roads.

Investigations into collisions show that some of the incidents could have been prevented and that there are five main contributory factors that cause serious road traffic collisions, they are:

• Careless driving
• Drink and drug driving
• Not wearing a seatbelt
• Using a mobile phone
• Speeding

Road users who commit one of the Fatal Five offences are far more likely to be involved in a fatal collision than those who do not.

If you have any information in relation to drink driving or dangerous driving of any kind, please contact us via cheshire.police.uk/tell-us or call 101. Information can also be passed on anonymously via CrimeStoppers.