Lagness crash driver was more than twice over limit

Adam Krawczynski (58) drank large quantities of neat vodka the night before causing the accident, where he lost control on a bend on the B2166 Lower Bognor Road in Lagness, near to Morrells Farm.

Krawczynski was driving home to Wellington Road in Bognor Regis from work with colleagues when his blue Rover 218 hit a building around 2.40pm on April 26, a court heard.

Two passengers sustained injuries and were taken to St Richard's Hospital for treatment.

Krawczynski was breath-tested at the scene and found to have 73mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath '“ the legal limit is 35mg, Chichester Magistrates' Court was told.

No other vehicles were involved.

Police arrested him and he admitted causing the crash.

Defence solicitor Hannah Jones told the court Krawczynski's mother had died around two weeks before the accident and he had just returned to the country after attending her funeral in his native Poland.

He was then dealt the 'devastating' news that his partner of 15 years was having an affair and leaving him.

On top of that, he lost his job '“ but has since found another job in a factory.

"He said he could not cope with everything that had gone on and he turned to alcohol," Miss Jones said.

"He is not a man with an alcohol problem but he drank large quantities of neat vodka. He is not aware how much he consumed, when he stopped or what time he went to bed. But the next morning he drank a coffee and thought he would be okay. Obviously he wasn't."

Krawczynski was 'devastated' at causing the accident and injuring his colleagues, the court heard.

And he was keen to take a driving rehabilitation course.

Disqualifying him from driving for 20 months, chairman of the bench Val Edwards said: "We have taken into account your domestic situation, the fact you pleaded guilty and co-operated with police.

"It has had terrible implications on you, I know, because you have lost your job and have real remorse about what has happened to your work colleagues."

Mrs Edwards agreed Krawczynski should attend the driving rehabilitation course.

And she ordered him to pay a 180 fine, 15 victim compensation and 55 court costs.

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