Notts police release footage where drink-driver thanks them for ‘changing his life’

A drink-driver had apologised to the police and thanked them for changing his life as he escaped unhurt in a car crash in Sutton-in-Ashfield last year.
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In thought-provoking footage released by Nottinghamshire Police today (December 6), the car can be seen speeding away from the police before losing control and ploughing his car into a metal fence.

The driver then gets out of the vehicle and attempts to flee before being arrested by roads policing officers.

The footage, taken by the Channel 5 documentary series Police Interceptors, is part of the force’s Christmas drink and drug-driving campaign.

Luckily the man was unhurt – but he immediately realised the error of his ways after officers put him in cuffs.

He said: …. "I know I made a mistake, I'm sorry.... the thing is, you (the police) saved me."

The incident happened in the Coxmoor Road area of Sutton-in-Ashfield at 11pm on October 23, 2019.

The man pleaded guilty to drink driving and driving without insurance. He received a £470 fine and was banned from driving for 20 months.

The car that was driven by the drunk man.The car that was driven by the drunk man.
The car that was driven by the drunk man.

The devastation created by the incident is also presented through the amount of damage caused to the vehicle and is designed to make people wonder what could have happened, especially if there had been a cyclist or pedestrian nearby.

Constable Andy Clarke, who arrests the man in the video, said: "He was very lucky not to have been injured and not to have collided into another vehicle, or struck a vulnerable road user.

"He was very apologetic and told us that we had changed his life, pledging never to drive under the influence again. He also told us how stupid he'd been and could have easily agreed to a lift from a friend.

"Clearly, not all of our drink and drug-drive suspects are this accommodating and for many, it is too late - they have already caused a devastating life-changing scenario."

Nottinghamshire's roads policing team is currently undertaking a major campaign to reduce drink and drug-drive incidents throughout December.

It includes pro-active patrols at key teams and locations, additional resources and lots of planned enforcement activity.

The force will also be targeting people who get behind the wheel the morning after as many people think they can they still drive despite still being over the limit.