Ex-police officer was three times over limit

Graham Carroll, who had a 28-year policing career, stopped in a lay-by to drink a bottle of red wine on the way back from the pub. The former traffic officer co-ordinated an annual anti-drink-drive campaign in 2007 when he condemned the “irresponsible behaviour of a few motoring idiots” who drove while over the legal limit.

York magistrates heard that Carroll had suffered with a post-traumatic stress disorder since leaving North Yorkshire Police as a result of “some of the things he had seen during his time in the force”.

Sandra Keene, defending, said Carroll “bitterly regretted” his actions. He has since been suspended from his job as a supermarket delivery driver, which he took up after leaving the police last year.

She added: “This has caused him a great deal of stress and great anxiety. It has caused him an enormous amount of upset and he bitterly regrets what he has done.”

An on-duty police inspector spotted Carroll driving erratically in his Mercedes at about 9.45pm on December 23 last year. The inspector followed Carroll to his home in Tadcaster where he was arrested on his driveway.

A blood sample later revealed Carroll had 283 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood. The legal limit is 80 milligrammes.

He pleaded guilty to a charge of driving while over the legal limit and was banned from driving for 30 months, given a 12-month community order, a 12-month supervision order and told to pay £85 costs.