Xmas Drink Drive Arrests Update

17 December 2014, 15:23 | Updated: 17 December 2014, 15:27

A&S Police carry out a breath test on a motorist

13 people were charged with drink driving offences in the first two weeks of the Christmas drink drive crackdown.

Gloucestershire Road Safety Partnership's "Eat, think and be merry" campaign began at the start of December and will run until the beginning of January.

Almost every day in the countdown to Christmas, one family in the UK will face the devastation of a death of a loved one in a drink related road collision. That’s 23 lives lost this December in avoidable and preventable crashes.

On top of this enormous human tragedy are the countless thousands whose lives are changed in one way or another because of the consequences of being convicted for drinking and driving. Roads Policing Inspector Kevin Roseblade said:

“It's hard to comprehend how people still haven't got the message about drink driving. The dangers and possible implications for the driver and other road users have been clear for a long time - so there really is no excuse for doing it.

The Tri-force roads policing team will carry on stopping people and breath testing wherever necessary and I'm grateful too for the checks being carried out by the Special Constabulary.

We will be keeping up the pressure and conducting regular roadside checks, as well as breath testing anyone involved in a road traffic collision, throughout the festive season. Our key message this year is very simple – eat, think and be merry.”

Details of the 13 charged with drink driving offences between Monday 1 December and Sunday 13 December:

Paul Bradshaw, 59 and of Rowan Close, Carterton in Oxfordshire was arrested on the A429 on 1 December. He will appear before magistrates in Cheltenham on 7 January.

Derek Clayton Gifford, 31 and of Rookery Road in Innsworth was arrested on the A40 on 4 December. He will appear before magistrates in Cheltenham on 6 January.

Robert Gordon Harris, 47 and of Lipson Road, Cheltenham was arrested near his home address on 5 December. He will appear before magistrates in Cheltenham on 22 January.

Andrew Bell, 42 and of Priory Lane, Bishop's Cleeve was arrested in Charlton Kings on 5 December. He will appear before magistrates in Stroud on 5 January.

Grace Leanne Welby, 22 and of Pittville Lawn, Cheltenham was arrested in Pill Grove Way on 6 December. She will appear before magistrates in Cheltenham on 16 January.

Kieran Ward, 22 and of Upper Park Street in Cheltenham was arrested in Tredworth High Street on 6 December. He is appearing before magistrates in Stroud today (17 December).

Ryan Andrew Malone, 30 and of Kempley in Dymock was arrested in St Oswald's Road in Gloucester on 7 December. He will appear before magistrates in Cheltenham on 6 January.

Christopher James Andrews, 22 and of Pike Hill in Elkstone, Cheltenham was arrested on an unclassified road in Woodmancote on 7 December. He will appear before magistrates in Cheltenham on 7 January.

Mikaele Raivalita Matana, 26 and of Chepstow was arrested on Beachley Road on 9 December. He will appear before magistrates in Cheltenham on 6 January.

Dean Lawrence Barry, 31 and of School Lane in Whitminster was arrested on the B4008 in Hardwicke on 12 December. He will appear before magistrates in Stroud on 12 January.

Tomasz Damiecki, 48 and of no known addres was arrested on the A40 Golden Valley bypass on 13 December. He will appear before magistrates in Cheltenham on 12 January.

Jack Daniel Allen, 23 and of Kingshill Road, Dursley was arrested in Garden Suburb in Dursley on 13 December. He will appear before magistrates in Stroud on 5 January.

David John Pinson, 65 and of London Road, Chalford was arrested on London Road on 14 December. He will appear before magistrates in Stroud on 19 January.