A truck driver has been sentenced to 12 weeks in jail after being caught with a blood alcohol level four times the legal limit following a crash at Harwich International Port.
Essex Police reported that officers from their road policing unit were alerted to a minor collision within the port on August 11. Concerns about the driver’s sobriety were raised, prompting a call to the police control room.
The driver, 43-year-old Jacek Przybyl, was arrested at 7:45 am after a breathalyser test confirmed he was significantly over the legal alcohol limit. Przybyl was taken into custody and appeared at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court the next day, where he admitted to the charge of drink driving.
In addition to his jail sentence, Przybyl was banned from driving for three years.
Adam Pipe, the head of roads policing at Essex Police, commented on the case, stating: “Jacek Przybyl showed a complete disregard for his safety and that of other road users when he attempted to drive a long distance on a major route out of Essex while heavily intoxicated.
“Alcohol remains in your system longer than many realize, impairing decision-making and slowing reaction times. I hope this serves as a clear warning to anyone considering driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs – it’s simply not an option.
“I’d like to thank the port staff for their vigilance, which allowed us to intervene and prevent Przybyl from posing a serious threat on our roads.”
