Comedian Alan Carr’s husband faces prison for drink driving crash with police car

Alan Carr with his husband Paul Drayton
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The husband of TV star Alan Carr has been told to prepare for a prison sentence after he admitted drunkenly reversing into a police car.

Paul Drayton, 50, was more than four times the legal limit while at the wheel of a Mitsubishi 4X4 car when he was stopped by police in Horsham, West Sussex.

His vehicle had been seen swerving along the road before being pulled over, and Drayton then crashed into the police vehicle that had parked up behind him.

“I make it quite clear the overwhelming likelihood is you will be going to prison”, District Judge Amanda Kelly told Drayton at Brighton magistrates court on Tuesday morning.

“You have endangered the public by driving around in that way. It is an absolute miracle you are here today and that you haven’t kill or maimed any members of the public.”

Adjourning the case for a pre-sentence report, the judge added: “Prepare yourself for a prison sentence.”

Drayton, who married comedian Carr in 2018, was around three miles from their £2.7 million home when he was stopped about 3pm on October 9.

Prosecutor Melanie Wotton said police located the vehicle and could see it “swerving from side to side on the road as they followed it”.

“Police officers managed to stop the motor vehicle. At that point while behind the vehicle, the silver Mitsubishi reversed into the police car.

“Officers got out and spoke to Mr Drayton. It was clear from his demeanour that he was intoxicated. He was unsteady and lacked co-ordination. He was subsequently arrested.”

The court heard Drayton had 153mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath when he was tested at the police station. The legal limit is 35mcg.

Drayton denied drink driving when he first appeared in court on November 2, but changed his plea to guilty on Tuesday morning. He was freed on unconditional bail until sentencing on January 26 next year.

The court heard Drayton has no previous convictions, and is currently receiving treatment for an “ongoing problem with alcohol”.

Drayton has been disqualified from driving from Tuesday.

He and Chatty Man host Carr were married in a ceremony led by singer Adele, after ten years together as a couple.

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