Brighton drink driver caught carrying child with no seatbelt

A man from Brighton was caught at the wheel having had too much to drink and with a child who had no seatbelt on.

Shoufan Firas, 39, was arrested in New England Road, Brighton, on Monday 1 January.

Firas, unemployed, of Preston Road, Brighton, was charged with driving with 62 micrograms of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35 micrograms.

He was also charged with carrying a five-year-old child who was not wearing a seatbelt.

At Brighton Magistrates’ Court on Thursday 1 February, Firas was banned from driving for 20 months.

He was also ordered to pay a £160 fine, £85 prosecution costs and a £30 victim surcharge.

His arrest was one of 195 made during Sussex Police’s annual Christmas crackdown on drink and drug drivers. The campaign ran from Friday 1 December to Monday 1 January.

Of these, 82 have so far been convicted. The remaining have either been charged, bailed, released under investigation or released without charge.

Sussex Police said: “People in Sussex can text officers on 65999 with the details of people they suspect of drink or drug driving or visit the Operation Crackdown website.

“You can also contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 or report it online.

“If you know someone is driving while over the limit or after taking drugs, call 999.”