‘You can’t take the car, my missus needs it,” was the reaction of a three times over the limit drink driver after he nearly ran into a police officer flagging him down in a supermarket car park. “Calm your mouth down and I’ll get out,” Paul Coulson told the officer.
PC Tom Maltby replied: “Mate, you’ve just driven the car at me. Get out of the f***ing car now.”
“I didn’t drive at you,” Coulson said but after being assured ‘yes, you did’ police were finally able to make an arrest.
Footage released by Cambridgeshire police show the 2-way conversations between the officer and the drunk driver.
After being cautioned and arrested, the officer told Coulson: “You drove at me while I’m standing in front of you with my hand up, indicating you to stop”.
Coulson tells the officer at various times ‘it is what it is’ ‘I haven’t done anything wrong’ ‘I didn’t try to run you over’ and ‘I don’t know what is going mate, you scared me”.
The incident happened on the evening of April 11 when police said they were “made aware of man suspected to be under the influence of alcohol walking back to his car which was parked in ASDA carpark, Rivergate”.
Officers from the Peterborough City Centre Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT) spotted Coulson, 34, staggering towards his white Peugeot 207.
As he started to drive away, PC Maltby – who was in high-viz uniform – stood in the middle of the road and signalled for Coulson to stop, however he continued on driving towards the officer, before stopping the car about two feet in front of them.
Coulson was arrested on suspicion of driving whilst unfit through alcohol.
Coulson, of Kendrick Close, Stanground, was arrested and later charged after he gave an evidential reading of 99 in custody, almost three times the legal limit of 35.
He appeared at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court on Friday (17 May) and was fined £200 after admitting the offence.
He has also been disqualified from driving for two years and two months.
PC Tom Maltby, who made the arrest, said: “Fortunately, we were nearby and able to stop Coulson before he drove off.
“Getting behind the wheel while under the influence of drink or drugs is incredibly dangerous. If you find yourself unable to drive, please arrange alternative transport to avoid putting lives at risk.”
The force operates a dedicated, confidential hotline – 0800 032 0845 – which is available 24/7 and provides the public with the chance to provide information about anyone they think may be driving under the influence of drink or drugs.
PC Tom Malby arrests Paul Coulson, of Kendrick Close, Stanground, for suspected drink driving. Coulson turned out to be 3 times over the legal limit.
