Police used CS spray to stop drink driver

A window fitter had to be stopped by police with a CS spray after his van hit parked cars while he was driving under the influence of drink, a court heard.

Residents had alerted officers after seeing the fitter's van collide with cars in Stourbridge. Police gave chase when the van failed to stop.

But it was being driven so slowly the officers were able to get out and run alongside speaking to the driver through an open window, magistrates were told. When he still refused to stop he was sprayed with CS gas.

Ian Simmonds, aged 36, of Lark Hill Road, Stourbridge, was banned from driving for two years, given a community order for 12 months, ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work and told to pay £85 costs when he appeared at Dudley Magistrates' Court yesterday.

He pleaded guilty to driving above the alcohol limit, driving without due care and attention and failing to stop after an accident. Tests found he had 90 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, the court heard. The legal limit is 35.

Mr Mark Cooper, prosecuting, said police had been patrolling along The Broadway, near its junction with South Road, when they heard shouts from residents. "People had seen Simmonds hit a number of parked cars and were shouting for him to stop the van," he said.

"Police gave chase. Originally they followed in their car but the van was so slow they were able to get out and run alongside so they could speak to him through an open window.

"He still did not stop so one of the officers used CS spray. The van stopped and the defendent got out the cab. He smelled of intoxicants and his eyes were glazed."

Mr David Wilkins, defending, said: "He had not planned to get behind the wheel on that day. But following the argument with his girlfriend had decided to drive home. This is a one-off blot on his copybook."