Polish man caught driving over the limit excuses himself by saying ‘drinking alcohol is normal back home’

A Polish man who was caught drink driving has defended himself by saying it is “quite usual” in his home country.

Radoslaw Jaroszek was nearly four times over the legal limit while selling ice creams from a van on the seafront in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, in August.

Police were called to the scene after customers reported him to the police for appearing “intoxicated”.

The 45-year-old was found to have 131mgs of alcohol per 100ml of breath.

On Wednesday, he admitted to drinking driving at Great Yarmouth Magistrates’ court but said it was normal to drink alcohol in Poland.

He added that he did not know Britain’s drink-driving laws were so strict.

The court heard Jaroszek was working for Lamarti’s Ice Cream when customers said he appeared “intoxicated” and “impaired”.

He was tracked down by police via CCTV as he drove through Great Yarmouth.

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The court heard that officers found him smelling of “liquor” and “unsteady on his feet”.

After it was discovered that the driver was significantly over the legal limit, he was arrested.

Speaking through an interpreter, Jaroszek told the court that in Poland it was “quite usual” to drink alcohol.

He claimed that he had only had two pints on the day of his arrest.

The court heard that the Polish national told a probation officer that he did not usually drink but had only been doing so to deal with depression after his partner suffered a miscarriage.

He was banned from driving for 25 months, given a 12-month community order including 100 hours of unpaid work and 10 rehabilitation requirement days, and ordered to pay £199 costs.

Lamarti’s Ice Cream fired Jaroszek after his arrest.