West Midlands Police officer's drink-drive ban: Downfall of Pc who made a career keeping the roads safe
"I would say to people if you are going to drive then don't touch a drop; that's the only way you can be certain you are safe to drive."
Those were the words of West Midlands Police officer Pc Chris Blount in 2005, highlighting a new blitz on drink drivers in Wolverhampton.
But today he paid the price for failing to heed his own advice, as he was convicted of drink-driving after being caught three times the limit in the city.
West Midlands Police was today expected to release a statement on the future of the officer, aged 49, but his career appeared to be over.
Pc Blount was regularly the face of the police war on drink-drivers in the West Midlands.
In the 2006 festive period, he told the Express & Star how officers would be out at undisclosed locations across the city every Friday from 10am until midnight until the end of the festive period.
Pc Blount said every motorist would be stopped and asked if they had been drinking in the previous 24 hours.
"Anyone who says yes will be breathalysed," he said. "Anyone who says no but we believe them to be lying will also be tested.
"Those found to be over the limit will be in court the next day and will be given an interim ban. Our message is drink drive today – get banned tomorrow."
Usually drink drivers do not receive bans until they have been in court, entered a plea and in some cases gone through a trial and appeal, he said.
Pc Blount said: "In one case a man was banned 16 months after he was charged. That is not good enough when we are trying to get these people off the roads. At this time of year a drink driver could offend again and again.
"They are a menace so the quicker we can get them out of their cars the better chance we have of stopping them seriously injuring or killing somebody."
In 2007, he was honoured with a police commander's commendation for his bravery after tackling a man with an axe.
Pc Chris Blount and a fellow officer were called to reports of brawl near a Bilston church which was sparked when emotions ran high at a funeral.
When they arrived they came face to face with a man slashing around wildly with the weapon.
They ordered him to put the axe down, but he refused. The officers were forced to use their CS spray on the man, who was eventually dropped the weapon. When he was searched, he was found to be carrying bleach and other inflammable substances which could have been used in the attack.
The awards ceremony was told these actions undoubtedly saved many people from serious injury.
Perhaps the highest profile case he worked on was the tragic death of Jamie Mason, 12, who was knocked down and killed in Wednesfield by an illegal overstayer who should no longer have been in the country.
He acted as family liaison officer to the youngster's family, who thanked him for his support in the aftermath of the tragedy.
In 2014, he gave evidence at the inquest of a drink-driver who killed himself as police got closer to charging him over a crash involving a victim who later died.
