MORE than a dozen motorists across Braintree and Witham have already been convicted of drink or drug-driving offences this year.

A total of 14 people have admitted or been convicted of offences since the start of 2019.

A further seven people have been charged in connection with drink or drug driving offences since January 1 and are awaiting court hearings.

The numbers reinforce concerns raised by Essex Police in recent months about the growing number of motorists caught driving under the influence.

January saw the largest number of motorists arrested on suspicion of drug-driving in one month, with 163 people stopped by police.

Among those convicted of drug-driving in the district include Samet Eskisan, 18, of Manor Street, Braintree, who was handed a 12-month driving ban and ordered to pay £196 in costs.

Barry Murphy, 59, of Woodlands Hay Lane, Braintree, was also convicted of drug driving. He was handed a 28-month driving ban and will have to pay £315 in costs, including a £100 fine.

There have meanwhile been 11 motorists convicted of drink-driving, with Marco Baltazar, Brynmor Powell, Julie Hutton, India Witham, James List, David Goldsmith, Jodie Harrison, Oliver Evans, Graeme Murdoch, Peter Waghorn and Kim Griffin all convicted in the last seven weeks.

John Wall, 53, has also been disqualified from driving after failing to provide a sample when pulled over by police.

The numbers reinforce concerns raised by Essex Police in recent months about the growing number of motorists caught driving under the influence.

January saw the largest number of motorists arrested on suspicion of drug-driving in one month, with 163 people stopped by police.

The force also announced back in January that a whopping 313 people were arrested in connection with drink or drug-driving during its Christmas campaign.

Head of road policing Adam Pipehoped the numbers would act as a “wake-up call” for the public.

He added: “This is an unprecedented number of arrests for a drink and drug driving campaign period, let alone any other month.

“To have, on average, ten people a day arrested for drink or drug driving-related offences is frightening enough, but I actually think that’s only the tip of the iceberg.

“What is particularly scary is that it seems people are taking a chance because they think they can get away with it. These figures show they can’t.

“I’ve never seen this many people arrested for these offences in one month.

“I hope it acts as a wake-up call and worries the public, because it worries us.”