Detective seen 'swerving' across road admits drink-driving

Det Supt Paul Kessell "smelled strongly of alcohol" and was "unsteady on his feet", the court heard

A senior police officer whose car was seen "swerving erratically" across a main road has admitted drink-driving.

Det Supt Paul Kessell was found to be more than three times the drink-drink limit when he was arrested on the A352 in Wool, Dorset, on 4 August.

The officer, who was formerly head of professional standards for Dorset Police and Devon & Cornwall Police, "smelled strongly of alcohol" and was "unsteady on his feet", Southampton Magistrates' Court heard.

He was bailed for the preparation of psychiatric reports ahead of sentencing on 5 November.

The detective, currently in charge of firearms licensing, was found to have 115 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath, the court was told.

The legal limit is 35 micrograms.

Judge Anthony Callaway told him: "I have to disqualify you on an interim basis as of now.

"The length of your [driving] ban is a matter for the sentencing hearing."

Previously, Det Supt Kessell commented on police misconduct cases in his role in charge of police standards.

In 2022, he said an officer who was twice the legal limit had "brought discredit upon the police service".

He added: "Such behaviour will not be tolerated within policing."

Det Supt Kessell faces a police misconduct hearing on 23 October.