A CALAMITOUS plumber escaped jail after a string of misdemeanours in just two days.

Leigh Banks was caught drink-driving twice in three days as well as contravening new government orders which aim to stop the spread of coronavirus.

He was initially reported to police for breaching social distancing rules as he visited another person’s house in Warren Way, Barnham, on March 31 - his 42nd birthday.

Police attended and gave Banks a lift back to his home in nearby Wentworth Close as he had been drinking.

But his wrongdoings were not done for the day.

Officers stayed in the area and, just 20 minutes later, watched on as Banks made his way back to Warren Way and climbed into the driving seat of his vehicle, starting the engine.

Police quickly intervened and found he was more than four times the drink-drive limit.

Banks was arrested and charged, but this was not the first time police had detained the 42-year-old in the last week.

Just three days earlier, officers had stopped him driving a white Ford Transit van in Westergate Street, Westergate.

On this occasion, he had also been found to be more than four times over the drink-drive limit, and was arrested and charged.

He was later released on unconditional bail, due to appear before magistrates in May.

But his second batch of crimes lead to his court date being brought forward.

After his arrest on March 31, he was remanded in custody to appear before Brighton Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.

There, he was sentenced to 20 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months, and banned from driving for three years,

He was also fined £207.

PC Tom Van Der Wee, of the Sussex Roads Policing Unit, said: “We’ve seen a dramatic reduction in the number of vehicles on our roads since these social distancing measures were introduced.

“But, while the volume of traffic may have changed in recent weeks, the law hasn’t.

“It remains an extremely serious offence to get behind the wheel when over the limit for drink or drugs.

“Drink and drug-driving destroys lives, and it’s more important now than ever - when hospitals are already stretched to their limits – that people take responsibility and do not increase the burden on the NHS.

“Key workers are doing a fantastic job across the country, and we can all play our part in helping them to help save lives.”