FIVE drivers have been banned for a total of 12 years after they were caught as part of North Yorkshire's summer drink and drug driving campaign.

They are the first wave of motorists to be convicted under the month-long crackdown, which coincides with the World Cup.

The most intoxicated of them was more than three-and-a-half times the legal breath alcohol limit of 35/100mg.

The five were:

  • John Albert Fox, 52, of Copmanthorpe. Banned for for 40 months and ordered to do 240 hours of unpaid work. He blew 128/100mg.
  • Rebecca Susan Nicholson, 40, of West Burton. Banned for 48 months, given a community order and fined £106. She blew 110/100mg
  • Jeremy Peter Barron, 36, of St Mary’s Crescent, Whitby. Banned for 16 months and fined £146 for drink driving and driving without insurance. He blew 57/100mg.
  • Andrew Goldie, 35, from Scunthorpe. Banned for 14 months and fined £266.. He blew 49/100mg.
  • Richard Raynor, 49, of Staithes. Banned for 28 months and fined £3,455 for failing to provide a specimen after he was arrested on suspicion of drug driving.

Roads Policing Inspector Dave Barf said: “It’s absolutely disgusting that within just a few days of launching our highly-publicised summer drink and drug driving campaign, we encountered drivers who are more than three times over the limit.

“It’s difficult to comprehend why anyone thinks it’s okay to drive after drinking that much.

“However, it’s encouraging to see magistrates handing out some pretty lengthy driving bans as our first cases from the campaign reach court.

“People who drive under the influence need to be taken off the roads. I can say that from first-hand experience of dealing with the consequences. When you arrive on the scene of a drink drive collision, you see things you can never erase from your memory."

A total of 80 drivers have now been arrested on suspicion of drink or drug driving-related offences since the campaign began on June 14.

Police are carrying out hundreds of breath tests across the county and performing stop checks at all times of the night and day including early mornings to detect those who are still over the limit from the night before.