A lorry driver has been jailed for putting the lives of "thousands" of motorists at risk after he drove on the A1 while drunk.

On June 27, several members of the public called the police reporting a 44 tonne Scania lorry swerving across lanes on the A1m between Stevenage and St Neots. 

When the Cambridgeshire force were alerted, they managed to track the lorry down near Wyboston. Despite flashing blue lights and sirens, the lorry driver failed to stop. 

The lorry was followed for a further six miles and a stinger to slow it down. Officers then managed to pull in front of the lorry and brought it to a stop near Sawtry. 

Inside the cab was 65-year-old Gheorghe Hirtopeanu, who appeared to be drunk. He was taken into custody but refused to provide a breath sample.

At Cambridge Crown Court on Wednesday (October 2) Hirtopeanu was sentenced to 14 months in prison after pleading guilty to dangerous driving, driving whilst unfit through drink, failing to stop, failing to provide specimen for analysis and driving a vehicle drawing a trailer on the offside lane of a motorway.

He was also disqualified from driving for eight years and four months.

In court, His Honour Judge Grey described Hirtopeanu’s driving as "outrageous" and said he was "extraordinarily drunk".

He said Hirtopeanu was, "an appalling risk to literally thousands of other road users".

HHJ Grey said: “There were only two reasons why you didn’t kill or seriously injure someone – luck and skill of police officers who were ultimately able to stop you.”

HHJ Grey also formally commended PC Ben Patten from the Road Policing Unit for his actions, describing it as a "first rate piece of clear thinking and highly talented driving from a well-trained officer".

PC Jemma Russell, who investigated, said: "Hirtopeanu didn’t give any thought for his or other road users’ safety when he got behind the wheel, driving on a major route.

"Alcohol stays in your system longer thank you think and it affects your decision making and slows your reaction time.

"I hope this acts as a warning to anyone who thinks that drink, or drug driving, is an option – it’s not.

"I’d like to thank members of the public who alerted police."