MEMBERS of the public called police after a 'heavily intoxicated' man was found slumped unconscious at the wheel of his car in Oxford. 

Richard McCarthy, 52, has been jailed and banned from driving after admitting several offences. 

Investigating officer Sergeant Linford Baxter praised those who alerted the police, saying they may have helped prevent a major crash.

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He said: “Without such actions, we would not have been aware of McCarthy, who posed a huge risk to other road users in his intoxicated state.

“This sentence is a reminder to everybody that we take seriously reports of drink and drug driving offences and for those who flout the law, there will be serious consequences.

“I would also commend officers for their swift actions in bringing McCarthy to justice.”

At around 4pm last Sunday, McCarthy was driving his Nissan Qashqai in Risinghurst, Oxford.

People called the police when he was seen in Stanway Road unconscious at the wheel. 

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The Essex man, of Buckingham Road, Laindon, was already disqualified from driving and was also driving without insurance. 

He was arrested and charged the following day and failed to perform a breath test.

In his hearing at Oxford Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, McCarthy pleaded guilty to one count of driving while disqualified, one count of failing to provide a specimen of breath when required and one count of using a motor vehicle without insurance.

He was jailed for 20 weeks and banned from driving for a further six years.