Jail for Hungarian trucker who left trailer on roundabout while buying beer

An HGV driver who abandoned his unhitched trailer on a roundabout to buy alcohol at a supermarket has been jailed.

Robert Fego, 48, was arrested and charged with drink driving after blowing more than three times the legal drink drive limit at the roadside in Harwich, Essex.

Police were called to Europa Way at around 3pm on 20 April following reports that a lorry trailer had become unhitched on a roundabout after it left Harwich Port.

Essex Police said it had received reports from the public and port security that Fego had left the scene and entered a supermarket where he bought alcohol before returning to his lorry.

It added that port security found him with a beer in his hand while his vehicle had visible damage where the trailer had become unhitched.

At Colchester Magistrates’ Court last week the Hungarian national was convicted and jailed for eight weeks and disqualified from driving for four years.

Investigating officer PC Ryan Gilroy, said: “As a lorry driver, Robert Fego has a huge responsibility to ensure his vehicle is safe and that he is taking the greatest care on the road.

“When we located him, he was more than three times the legal drink driving limit which poses a clear danger to other road users.

“He had abandoned his unhitched trailer, instead going to buy alcohol.

“Fortunately his actions were reported to us by members of the public and the port’s security meaning we could respond quickly.

“He will now be off the roads for a significant period of time.”