Outwell man got behind the wheel after 'five or six'

An Outwell drink-driver in a pick-up truck who almost hit oncoming traffic has been given a suspended sentence.

Jason Rolfe (49) told arresting officers: “I’m screwed.”

Prosecuting at King’s Lynn Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, Jane Walker said police received a call at 8pm on August 23 from a motorist saying that they were following a blue truck which was going all over the road. The caller said it had turned into Isle Bridge Road, where Rolfe lives.

Police located the Ford Ranger outside a Spar shop with its lights on and the engine running and watched from a distance.

A male got in and drove down the middle of the road towards oncoming traffic, which had to swerve out of the way.

When Rolfe was pulled over, he stumbled out and left the driver’s door open in the path of oncoming traffic.

“He was holding on to the door and very unstable,” said Miss Walker. “When asked how much he’d had to drink, he replied ‘five or six.”

He was arrested and later blew 88 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath.

Rolfe pleaded guilty to drink-driving

In mitigation, solicitor George Sorrell said: “It’s perhaps good fortune that nobody came out of this with an injury.

"He’s made a mess of his own life but much more to the point it could have made a big difference to somebody else’s life if that accident had happened.

“He’s very much ashamed at this really quite appalling driving.”

Rolfe was given 12 weeks’ custody, suspended for 18 months, and a 12-month community order with 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days.

He was also banned from driving for 32 months, which can be reduced with successful completion of a drink-drive rehabilitation course.

He must pay £122 victim surcharge and £85 costs.