Man living in Boston crashed lorry while over drink-drive limit

Roman Jedrasiak, who was living in Stanhope Way, Boston, at the time, went back to Poland after the offence.

He was at the wheel of his employer’s Scania LGV which crossed the centre white line of a road in Wissington, Norfolk, and collided with an Audi.

Three hours later, the 38-year-old was still almost twice the excess alcohol limit.

After hearing the defendant had arrived at King’s Lynn Magistrates’ Court on Thursday via plane, train and bus, presiding magistrate Anne Parker told him: “We’re very glad that you made the effort to come back and answer to this. A lot of people in your position wouldn’t have done and we’ve taken that into account with the sentencing.”

Prosecutor Paul Brown said Jedrasiak’s truck had a partial head-on collision with the car but continued further along the B1160.

“Some 20 minutes later he returned to the collision scene,” added Mr Brown. “He gave a positive breath test at the roadside and at 10.20am – nearly three hours later – he provided a reading on the intoxilyser of 64 (microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath).”

The legal limit is 35.

The court was told that the car driver suffered minor injuries in the collision.

Jedrasiak pleaded guilty to drink-driving on January 30.

Solicitor Hugh Cauthery, mitigating, said: “The reason why he fell from grace on this occasion against a background of good character is that he had received a message from his wife in Poland.”

Mr Cauthery said it was about a serious health matter and Jedrasiak went on to suffer insomnia. He turned to alcohol and had had about 200 millilitres of spirits on the day of the offence.

Jedrasiak, who assured the court that he would be returning to Poland immediately and not coming to the UK, was disqualified from driving for 18 months, fined £435 and told to pay £105 costs and £43 victim surcharge.