Frederick Tunnard admitted dangerous driving while intoxicated. Judge suspended his sentence due to business impact.
Then, more officers arrived. He drove off, disappearing from sight. The prosecution said the driving was dangerous and deliberate.
Police started searching for him and found his car parked. Tunnard drove onto the kerb and got around a police car. Again, he disappeared, but again, they found him. He hit a gate and a parked car before driving into a field, causing heavy damage to the car.
He reversed toward a police car, forcing it to move. He drove off, but they finally caught him.
His breath test showed 125 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath; the legal limit is 35 micrograms. He said he only drank after parking.
Tunnard lived near Boston, Lincolnshire. He admitted to dangerous driving on March 22, 2024. He had prior drink driving convictions from 2022, resulting in a 16-month ban. In January 2025, he was drunk in charge and also assaulted an emergency worker; this was heard at York Crown Court. Judge Simon Hickey noted Tunnard fled four separate times.
However, the judge chose not to jail him. The farmer faced problems, including arson, with criminals starting fires on his land twice. Jail would cost seven people their jobs within Tunnard’s farming business.
Tunnard got a 12-month suspended sentence, suspended for 18 months without conditions. He also faced a 12-month driving ban and must pass an extended test before driving again.
Kelly Clarke spoke for Tunnard and said he had £900,000 in debt. The fires hurt his finances deeply, and he also had mental health issues. He used alcohol to cope.
“It was a terrible mistake,” she stated. “He says he quit drinking in October.”