Banned drink driver allowed to continue living in his car

A drink driver who was banned from the roads for 14 months has been told he is allowed to live in his car. Egidijus Sakalauska pleaded guilty at Cambridge Magistrates’ Court to committing the offence on October 27.

Paul Brown, prosecuting, said the 24-year-old was spotted by police at 1.30am due to his defective lights and the very slow speed he was travelling at. Mr Brown said: “He was suspected of being a drink driver and was pulled over. He smelled of alcohol and he told police he been drinking 40 minutes previously.”



A roadside breath test showed he had 54mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35mg. The Pole, representing himself, told magistrates he had just been “dumped” by his girlfriend who lived in the city and he was trying to see her. He added that while he used to live in King’s Lynn, he now lives in his car in Tilbury, Essex, where he works as a self-employed lorry driver, transporting containers at the docks.

Sakalauska said: “I have been in the UK for three months but am living in my car. Can I still do that now I am banned?” Claire Robinson, chief magistrate, replied: “We have heard you sleep in your car, but that is no excuse to drive it so do not be tempted.” The defendant was fined £300 for the offence and ordered to pay a £30 victim surcharge and £85 court costs. His 14-month disqualification from driving can be reduced by 14 weeks if he completes a drink driver rehabilitation course.