Drink driver asks officer for help

Sipek admitted drink-driving and having no insurance

A motorist who crashed into a lamppost after drinking pleaded with another car driver not to call the police, not realising he was a high-ranking officer, a court has heard

Jan Sipek crashed his Nissan Sunny in Horam, East Sussex, after going out to celebrate his engagement.

When the motorist behind pulled up the 25-year-old Czech au pair asked him not to call 999 and said: "Don't get the police, I'm drunk."

But he was arrested when the motorist turned out to be Chief Inspector Peter Mills, the police district commander for Eastbourne.

Sipek's friends also announced to the officer that he had no insurance.

Eastbourne magistrates heard Sipek, of High Street, Heathfield, was twice over the legal drink drive limit after the crash on 9 January.

He was fined £400 and given a 20-month driving ban after pleading guilty to drink driving and having no insurance.