Alan Carr’s estranged husband Paul Drayton has been jailed after reading ‘Off the Scale’ in a police car under the influence of alcohol.
Just days after Allen confirmed that he was separating from his partner of 13 years, a court heard how Drayton, 50, was ‘gambling with others’ lives’ when he got behind the wheel. Gone, while at times the legal limit.
He was seen walking from side to side when police chased him near his home in West Sussex in October last year.
Drayton was told by the judge that he was ‘to death’.
He appeared at Brighton Magistrates Court on Wednesday after pleading guilty to one count of driving a motor vehicle when the alcohol level was above the threshold at an earlier hearing.
The court heard how concerned members of the public had called police on 9 October last year when they saw Drayton driving in Broadbridge Heath, West Sussex shortly before 3pm.
Prosecutor Susan Soros said officers tracked her down and saw her vehicle “swirling from side to side”.
Suspecting that he was over the alcohol limit, he signaled Drayton to proceed and he complied.
‘The defendant then overturns in the police vehicle,’ Ms. Soros said.
Drayton was then boxed in to prevent him from being driven away by other police vehicles.
A breath alcohol test returned a reading of 153 micrograms in 100 milliliters of breath — four times the legal limit.
John Dye, who represented Drayton, said he was facing ‘a perfect storm in his life’ when he got behind the wheel that day.
He battled alcoholism and mental health issues, had to undergo a brain operation, and was injured when he fell from a horse, he told the court.
Mr Dye added: ‘And the last straw, as is now well documented, is his personal life as well.
‘Her partner of 13 or 14 years – that relationship is broken, partly because of Mr Drayton’s problems with alcohol.’
He said Drayton was “absolutely scared” of going to jail.
Sentencing him, District Judge Amanda Kelly acknowledged his alcohol issues and the effect the breakup of his marriage had on him.
But he continued: ‘You were battling to the death when you got behind the wheel in that state.
‘You were not only gambling with your life but you were gambling with the lives of others.
‘You could easily kill or seriously injure someone else’s child, partner or friend.’
The judge said the breath alcohol test reading was ‘a reading so high that it is off the scale.’
Drayton was jailed for 14 weeks and banned from driving for three years.
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