Skipper fined £2,000 for refusing breath test

Customs officers making their final checks on board the Torrent before it left port on Friday night found Oleg Filimonov, 41, in a boozy state on deck. And the sailor made legal history on Wednesday when he was convicted under laws normally reserved for drink-drivers.

Shah Amin, defending, said: 'In all my years as a solicitor, I have never come across a case in which the captain of a ship is charged under the Road Traffic Act.

'I have spent many hours searching through law books looking for similar cases, but cannot find even one. There appears to be no precedent for this.'

The Torrent arrived at Newhaven on Friday carrying split stone aggregate, which is used as the foundation for new roads. Magistrates in Brighton heard Filimonov, an Estonian national, was relieved of his duties while the cargo was unloaded '“ and took the opportunity to have a few drinks.

Prosecutor Sonia Flijani said: 'The vessel was due to leave Newhaven at high tide, shortly after midnight, once its cargo had been unloaded.

'At 9pm, customs officers boarded the boat to carry out routine checks before its departure.