'Extraordinarily drunk' lorry driver arrested on A1 near Peterborough 'put thousands of people at risk'

A lorry driver who a Crown Court Judge said was 'extraordinarily drunk' when he drove on the A1 near Peterborough has been jailed – after he put ‘thousands’ of others at risk.

Gheorghe Hirtopeanu (65) was pulled over by police at Sawtry after concerns were raised about the standard of his driving as he drove the 44 tonne Scania truck north.

Stinger used by police

Members of the public called police reporting the lorry swerving across lanes on the A1m between Stevenage and St Neots on the evening of 27 June.

When officers in Cambridgeshire were alerted, they tracked the vehicle down near Wyboston but despite the flashing blue lights and sirens, the driver failed to stop.

The lorry was then followed for a further six miles as other officers used a stinger to slow the vehicle down. Officers then pulled in front of the lorry to bring it to a stop near Sawtry.

Inside the cab they found 65-year-old Gheorghe Hirtopeanu who appeared to be drunk.

He was taken into custody but refused to provide a breath sample.

“There were only two reasons why you didn’t kill or seriously injure someone – luck and skill of police officers"

At Cambridge Crown Court, His Honour Judge Grey described Hirtopeanu’s driving as ‘outrageous’ and said he was ‘extraordinarily drunk’. He said Hirtopeanu was ‘an appalling risk to literally thousands of other road users’.

HHJ Grey said: “There were only two reasons why you didn’t kill or seriously injure someone – luck and skill of police officers who were ultimately able to stop you.”

HHJ Grey also formally commended PC Ben Patten from the Road Policing Unit for his actions describing it as ‘first rate piece of clear thinking and highly talented driving from a well-trained officer’.

Hirtopeanu was sentenced to 14 months in prison after pleading guilty to dangerous driving, driving whilst unfit through drink, failing to stop, failing to provide specimen for analysis and driving a vehicle drawing a trailer on the offside lane of a motorway. He was also disqualified from driving for eight years and four months.

“Hirtopeanu didn’t give any thought for his or other road users’ safety when he got behind the wheel, driving on a major route.”

PC Jemma Russell, who investigated, said: “Hirtopeanu didn’t give any thought for his or other road users’ safety when he got behind the wheel, driving on a major route.

“Alcohol stays in your system longer thank you think and it affects your decision making and slows your reaction time.

“I hope this acts as a warning to anyone who thinks that drink, or drug driving, is an option – it’s not.

“I’d like to thank members of the public who alerted police.”

Cambridgeshire Police operates a dedicated, confidential hotline – 0800 032 0845 – which is available 24/7 and gives the public with the chance to provide information about anyone they think may be driving under the influence.