Driver Arrested at Brighton Marina McDonald's with Child, Over Legal Limit

Tadhg Ryan, 36, drove to the McDonald's at Brighton Marina while more than four times over the legal drink-drive limit, with a three-year-old girl in the back seat. Police arrested him at the scene, and he has since been convicted at Brighton Magistrates' Court as part of a regional Christmas crackdown on drink and drug-driving.

Ryan, described as self-employed, is among the latest nine people convicted following the operation, which ran from 1 December to 1 January and resulted in 279 arrests across the area. Of those arrested, 56 have been convicted so far. Sentencing updates in the case were recorded in February, though specific details of Ryan's sentence, including any disqualification length or financial penalty, have not been confirmed from court records.

The presence of the child in the vehicle marks this case as one of the more serious within the crackdown. No details about welfare procedures for the girl have been made public.

Local broadcaster Ashdown Radio, which has been publishing the names of those convicted under the operation, said it will "continue to publicly identify anyone convicted of drink or drug-driving as part of this campaign to raise awareness of the issue and to act as a deterrent to others from committing the same offence."

Anyone who knows of a driver operating over the limit can call 999, or report it anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.