Drink-driver arrested at McDonald’s in Brighton Marina among nine sentenced in Sussex crackdown

A drink-driver found to be more than four times the legal alcohol limit after being stopped at McDonald’s in Brighton Marina is among nine offenders sentenced as part of Sussex Police’s festive crackdown. Tadhg Ryan, 36, of Brighton Marina Village, had driven to the fast-food restaurant on 10 December with a three-year-old child in the […]

A drink-driver found to be more than four times the legal alcohol limit after being stopped at McDonald’s in Brighton Marina is among nine offenders sentenced as part of Sussex Police’s festive crackdown.

Tadhg Ryan, 36, of Brighton Marina Village, had driven to the fast-food restaurant on 10 December with a three-year-old child in the back of the vehicle. Officers found he had 145 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath, well over the legal limit. He was charged with drink-driving and being drunk in charge of a child.

At Brighton Magistrates’ Court on 20 February, Ryan was disqualified from driving for 30 months and handed a 12-month community order, including participation in an alcohol abstinence programme. He was also ordered to pay court costs and a victim surcharge.

He is one of nine individuals recently sentenced following arrests made during Sussex Police’s Christmas drink and drug-driving campaign, which ran from 1 December to 1 January.

Those sentenced are:

• Tadhg Ryan, 36, Brighton Marina Village – Disqualified for 30 months, 12-month community order, alcohol abstinence requirement, costs and surcharge.
• David Mutch, 46, Eastbourne – Disqualified from driving, fined, and ordered to pay costs and a surcharge after pleading guilty to drink-driving.
• John Brown, 35, Bognor Regis – Disqualified from driving and fined after admitting drink-driving.
• Daniel Shepherd, 33, Worthing – Disqualified from driving and fined following a drink-driving conviction.
• Jack White, 29, Crawley – Banned from driving and fined after pleading guilty to drink-driving.
• Lee Martin, 42, Hastings – Disqualified from driving and ordered to pay a fine, costs, and surcharge.
• Connor Smith, 27, Chichester – Disqualified from driving and fined for drink-driving.
• Michael Green, 51, Horsham – Disqualified and fined after admitting the offence.
• Ryan Taylor, 39, Brighton – Banned from driving and fined, with additional costs imposed by the court.

During the month-long campaign, Sussex Police made 279 arrests for drink and drug-driving offences, with dozens of cases already resulting in convictions.

Police have reiterated that they will continue to publicise the outcomes of such cases to deter others and highlight the serious consequences of driving under the influence, including the risk of causing serious injury or death, receiving a criminal record, and facing significant financial penalties.