Jail for lockdown drink driver arrested after Devon M5 caravan crash
A drink driver has been jailed after being involved in a caravan crash on the M5 during the coronavirus lockdown.
Dennis Michael Ryan was travelling in breach of the current restrictions when the pile-up happened on the motorway near Sampford Peverell on April 8.
The 34-year-old pleaded guilty to drink-driving and driving while disqualified at Exeter Magistrates’ Court and was jailed for 17 weeks.
Police were called after a car and caravan jack-knifed on the southbound carriageway of the M5 between junctions 26 and 27 at around 1.40pm.
Pictures from the scene showed the caravan had overturned during the collision, which resulted in the temporary closure of two southbound lanes.
Ryan, who was driving a Toyota Avensis, was remanded in custody following the incident.
He admitted driving on the A373 at Cullompton with 109 micrograms of alcohol in his breath. The legal limit is 35.
Thousands raised to rebuild torched adventure playground in Bristol
Wiltshire Council and Police thank businesses and public for PPE donations
Magistrates said they were jailing the Irish national, who lives in High Wycombe, because he was travelling in breach of the lockdown and was on licence for a previous offence.
He was also disqualified from driving for a year and told to pay a victim surcharge of £122.