Drunk motorist drove through police reconstruction

Payne knocked over a mannequin when he ignored road closure signs in Wiltshire

A man has been banned from the roads for 12 months after he drunkenly drove through a collision investigation site.

Richard John Payne, 42, left a trail of cones in his wake and knocked over a mannequin that was part of the police reconstruction when he ignored road closure signs at Yatton Keynell, in Wiltshire, on 9 September.

He was arrested at the scene on suspicion of driving a motor vehicle above the alcohol limit and sentenced at Swindon Magistrates' Court where he was given a 12-month driving ban and a fine of £300 on Wednesday last week.

Wiltshire Police said the actions of Payne, from Maltings in Yatton Keynell, "put officers at risk" and left them in "total disbelief."

'Drove recklessly'

The crash scene had been set up by the police serious collision investigation team.

On the roadside, Payne gave a roadside reading of 58 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath and, later in custody, 44 micrograms with the legal limit being 35 micrograms.

At court he was given the opportunity to reduce the driving disqualification by three months by undergoing a rehabilitation course.

Payne was also ordered to pay a £120 surcharge and £85 court costs.

PC Paul Brewster, from Wiltshire Police's serious collision investigation team, said: "Having spent 18 years in policing, there is not a lot that surprises me.

"However this incident left me in total disbelief.

"Payne drove recklessly through a live reconstruction scene, placing officers at risk.

"I hope that he takes the time to reflect on his actions."