Stunned police see van driver blow nearly FIVE TIMES over the limit after being stopped in Northampton

33-year-old from East Northants has been bailed to appear at Magistrates Court
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Stunned police revealed a suspected drink-driver blew nearly FIVE TIMES over the legal limit after stopping a vehicle in Northampton.

Road Crime Team officers pulled over a van driving erratically on Mereway were shocked when he reigstered 155 on a roadside breath test late last night (Sunday).

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A spokesman for the Force said: "The driver fell out of the van stinking of beers and slurring his words. He was arrested and blew 155 — then 156 after being taken into custody."

Police this morning (Monday) confirmed a 33-year-old man from East Northamptonshire has been bailed to appear at Northampton Magistrates Court in March next year.

The legal limit is 35 micrograms per 100 millilitres of breath.

Britain's worst ever case of drink driving is believed to be a woman who was TEN TIMES over the limit in 1999.

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Officers thought their equipment was broken when Michelle Fothergill's breath test reading registered an astonishing 333 micrograms per 100 millilitres of breath after she was stopped doing 60mph in a 40mmph zone on the wrong side of the road in Leeds.

A van driver is suspected of being nearly five times over the limit after being stopped in NorthamptonA van driver is suspected of being nearly five times over the limit after being stopped in Northampton
A van driver is suspected of being nearly five times over the limit after being stopped in Northampton

In May 2018, an aircraft engineer from Wellingborough was jailed and banned from driving for five years after blowing 205 micrograms.

Officers spotted a Honda Civic drove across the A45 bridge into Great Doddington and hit a kerb. The vehicle nearly hit oncoming traffic before coming to a stop when a tyre burst.

Drink-driving is one of the 'fatal four' offences Northamptonshire Police is targeting as part of their Operation Journey safety crackdown.

The three-month operation also targets speeding, not wearing a seatbelt and using a mobile phone at the wheel.