Drink-driver loses appeal over sentence for serious collision in village near Hastings

Police said that Sarah Reese was caught on her dashboard camera claiming she was not going to drive after consuming alcohol.

Footage captured by Sussex Police showed that she reversed out of her driveway in her black Seat, then drove off erratically.

She ballooned a bend and hit two elderly pedestrians who were walking on the pavement on the opposite side of the road, causing injuries, one which was serious, police said

The footage then shows her driving downhill in Waites Lane where she lost control and careered into a hedge.

At Lewes Crown Court on March 31, Reese, 59, formerly a local authority employee of Fyrsway, Fairlight, lost her appeal against her sentence.

The incident happened shortly after 8pm on April 17 last year.

Police said that Reese was sentenced in December last year after she admitted causing serious injury by dangerous driving and driving while over the prescribed limit for alcohol.

She was jailed for a total of 18 months, and was disqualified from driving for a total of three years and nine months. The court ordered that she will have to take an extended re-test if she is to be

A blood test showed she had 135 milligrams (mg) of alcohol per litre of blood. The legal limit is 80mg of alcohol per litre of blood.

Roads Policing Unit officer PC Nigel Dunn said: “This case shows the dangers of driving a vehicle after drinking alcohol.

“Reese claimed that she was not impaired, but the footage shows how erratic and dangerous her driving was.

“She caused serious harm to an elderly couple who were walking on the pavement, and was lucky that she did not cause further harm.

“Drink-driving is one of the main factors in why people are killed or seriously injured on our roads.

“So we are pleased that the court rejected the appeal. It should be a warning to every drink-driver not to take the risk with their own safety and the safety of other road users.”