A foreign lorry driver has been jailed after driving the wrong way on the A249 near Sittingbourne whilst nearly four times the legal limit for drinking and driving.

Slovakian Ivan Kumensky (correct), 49, was stopped by police as he approached the Stockbury roundabout at around 2.30am on Monday.

The juggernaut, belonging to Robin Freight Transport Services, was impounded by police and Kumensky, who speaks no English, was taken into custody to await the hearing at Sittingbourne Magistrates' Court.

The court heard that he had 128 microgrammes of alcohol in his breath - the legal limit is 35 and jailed him for 28 days when he pleaded guilty.

Geoffrey Playford, defending, said: "He had spent the weekend in Calais with some colleagues and thought his delivery time was on Tuesday but he suddenly realised it was 5am on Monday so he caught an earlier ferry.

"His says his satellite navigation system led him onto the wrong carriageway. He was making towards the M2."

Kumensky appeared in court with a Slovakian translator.

It was a member of the public who contacted the police after seeing his lorry being driven the wrong way towards the roundabout.

PC Warren Jarvis said: "If it wasn't for that person contacting us immediately then we could have been dealing with a far worse situation.

"We are continually combating drink driving in the area and are running a targeted campaign this month.

"Officers are stopping and breathalysing any motorist they believe may be driving whilst under the inflluence of alcohol or drugs and carrying out extra stop checks in hotspot areas.

Anyone caught will be brought before the court."