Alan Carr’s ex-husband Paul Drayton shares heartbreaking clip of his drink-drive arrest as he insists he’s ‘rebuilt himself’ after marriage split

Alan Carr‘s ex-husband Paul Drayton has marked three years since he was arrested for drink-driving by sharing a clip of the moment he was taken away by police.

The 51-year-old – who split from the comedian back in 2022 – had a well-documented battle with alcoholism, and narrowly escaped jail after reversing into a police car with an alcohol test reading ‘off the scale’ on October 9 2022.

Paul took to Instagram to share footage of the moment he was arrested, and in a lengthy caption described it as ‘the lowest period of his life.’

He wrote: ‘Three years ago today I was arrested handcuffed and taken to Crawley police station. This is short edited clip of that day. (I still get anxiety watching this)

‘What followed was a catalogue of events that was nothing short of a nightmare! The officer said I was off my face and that I had reversed my car into his. Both were untrue! I was a broken man on that day!

Alan Carr’s ex-husband Paul Drayton has marked three years since he was arrested for drink-driving by sharing a clip of the moment he was taken away by police

The 51-year-old – who split from the comedian back in 2022 – had a well-documented battle with alcoholism (pictured in 2019)

‘I was advised to plead not guilty in order for my Lawyer to do a full investigation to gather all the mitigating evidence together.

‘I felt like I was drowning. On the 26th December 2022 the judge decided to sentence me to 12 weeks in a class B prison!

‘I had just had 2 brain surgeries, was going through a divorce and moving house to name a few of the things I was coping with! I was also three weeks into rehab!

‘I have taken full responsibility for my actions and believe me when I say that whole period in my life was the lowest! 

‘It’s taking a lot for me to rebuild myself and a huge journey of self discovery whilst not using alcohol to cope or self medicate as I had done in the past.

‘I am currently writing my memoirs which may be titled ”Take it on the Chin” where you will read the full story along with many other stories of my eventful and colourful life! Thank you all for your continuing love and support! It means the world!!

In January 2022, Paul walked free from court after winning his appeal against a prison sentence for drink-driving.

He spent two ‘harrowing’ nights in custody after reversing a 4×4 into a police car with an alcohol test reading ‘off the scale’. 

Paul took to Instagram to share footage of the moment he was arrested, and in a lengthy caption described it as ‘the lowest period of his life’

A judge told him he should be given the opportunity to turn his life around and that his sentence would be suspended.

Paul had been handed a 14-week jail term after pleading guilty to a single count of ‘driving a motor vehicle when alcohol level above limit’.

John Dye, representing Paul, told the court: ‘This is a very serious drink-driving offence.

‘It crosses the custody threshold. I think to say anything other than that would be absurd.’

But he emphasised his previous good character, mental health struggles and problems with alcohol.

‘The two nights in custody have been extremely difficult for someone who has poor mental health,’ he added.

She told him he would receive a 12-week prison sentence, suspended for 24 months.

Prosecutor Suzanne Soros said officers tracked him down and saw his vehicle ‘swerving from side to side’.

Suspecting he was over the alcohol limit, they signalled for him to pull over and he complied.

‘The defendant then reverses into the police vehicle,’ Ms Soros said.

Paul was then boxed in by other police vehicles to prevent him making a getaway.

A breath alcohol test returned a reading of 153 micrograms in 100 millilitres of breath – four times the legal limit.

The week prior, the couple announced they were divorcing after 13 years together. Paul shared his own statement on Instagram explaining that he checked himself into rehab at the beginning of the year ‘in order to get the help and support I need during this challenging time.’

In 2023, Alan said that it was Paul’s struggles with alcohol addiction that led to the end of their marriage.

Paul was handed a 14-week jail term after pleading guilty to a single count of ‘driving a motor vehicle when alcohol level above limit’, but later had his sentence suspended

Speaking to The Guardian, Alan confessed he has previously questioned whether he himself was an alcoholic, following incredibly messy nights out.

Speaking of his divorce, Alan told the publication: ‘You come out and you think, ”Oh, I’m happy now, taking a bit more control of my life”.’ 

The TV star also revealed that after moving from Sussex to London, he isn’t fussed about having sex but wants to date someone ‘celebrity adjacent’.

While his ex-husband Paul openly shares updates on his recovery from alcohol addiction, Alan revealed ‘there have been times’ he’ questioned his own drinking.

He recalled a time in Palm Springs when he drunkenly attacked his ex and ransacked their hotel room, but awoke with no memory of either incident.

Alan also spoke of a 4am police statement he has no memory of signing outside a McDonald’s in Liverpool after his tour manager Elliot, had his leg shattered by a gang.

Another time saw the comic waking up after 3am locked in a London TV studios after accosting Harrison Ford, who was in the corridor on his way to the Jonathan Ross show. 

However, Alan insisted: ‘I know now that I’m not [an alcoholic] and seeing [alcoholism] first-hand, I realise I was nowhere near becoming one.’ 

Alan and Paul were married by Adele in her Los Angeles garden in 2018.

The singer wrote on Instagram: ‘Seeing as the cats out the bag. I married two of my best friends in January. You know me, any excuse to dress up.’

Carr told ITV’s This Morning at the time: ‘Adele got ordained and she married us. She is the kindest and most sweetest. She sang my first dance.’

In a statement about the divorce, Carr’s spokesman said: ‘After 13 years as a couple and three years of marriage,

‘Alan Carr and Paul Drayton would like to announce they are separating. They have jointly and amicably made the difficult decision to divorce and go their separate ways. We request that their privacy is respected at this sensitive time.’

Rehab stints, lockdown temptations and a drink-drive charge: Paul Drayton’s battle with alcohol

2016 

Alan speaks out on Paul’s battle with booze for the first time, writing in his book Alanatomy that he began drinking more heavily after injuring his back in 2015. 

Paul and Alan in November 2018 following Paul’s rehab stint earlier that year

‘It’s horrible when you realise how bad it’s got. You’re watching someone kill themselves,’ the star writes.

‘I wanted to leave him. It’s the lies that get you – the, ‘Oh I’ll never drink again’. And then you go out, realise you’ve forgotten your car keys, go back and… [Paul would be drinking.]

‘I couldn’t cope, because when I left the house, I didn’t know if he was going to have a fall, or put something on the hob and fall asleep. He was grey and shuffling around. It was like watching someone die.’

January 2018

Shortly after Alan and Paul return from their Mexico honeymoon, Paul checks himself into a rehab facility. 

March 30 2020

Paul reveals he has gone 650 days without having a drink, posting on Instagram at the beginning of the first coronavirus lockdown: ‘Believe me I’m really tempted to have a few. Even if it’s Just to alleviate the bloody boredom! I wake up the next day so grateful I didn’t.’

August 2020 

Alan reveals lockdown has tempted his teetotal husband to start drinking again. ‘It’s been tough for Paul during lockdown. He’s been saying, ”Oh, shall we get a bottle?” and I say, ”No, we’re not getting any rosé wine in”. He’s been so good and I’m so proud of him,’the comedian says.

August 2021 

Drayton pictured at his court hearing dor drink-driving in November 2021

Paul shares a photo of himself with a black eye on Instagram and tells a fan ‘we had a bad row,’ before removing it within an hour.

The next day he insists Alan ‘has never hit me,’ writing on social media: ‘I’m feeling very fragile at the minute and would like to say that Alan would not and has never hit me. And I’m devastated that he has to deal with this today.’ 

Alan confirms in a statement shortly after his husband posted the black eye image the injury was a result of him ‘being back on the wagon’. 

September 2021  

Alan explains that he had given up alcohol to help his husband stay sober,  revealing he had six months off that spanned Christmas and New Year but he had since returned to drinking.

‘It was the worst f****ing Christmas I’ve ever had. And my mother didn’t help by offering him a Bailey’s and going: ‘It’s only Bailey’s – what’s the worst that can happen!” Alan says of Paul.

November 2021

Paul pleads guilty at Brighton Magistrates to a drink-driving charge after getting behind the wheel while four times over the legal limit. He is warned that he faces jail by a judge who tells him it was a ‘miracle’ no one was killed.

Paul was accused of drink-driving after he reversed into a police car, narrowly missing a mother pushing a pram, while in his Mitsubishi 4×4 in West Sussex, just three miles from the £2.7 million home he shares with Alan.

Originally, he denied the charge. 

Paul shares a post on NYD 2022 admitting 2021 had been full of ‘ups and downs’

January 1 2022

Paul shares a lengthy Instagram post on January 1, admitting 2021 had been full of ‘ups and downs’ as he apologises for hurting his loved ones. Paul says he takes ‘full responsibility for my actions and am sorry for any hurt I’ve caused at times when I was not myself’.

 January 21 2022

The couple confirm they have separated and are divorcing after 13 years together. Paul shares his own statement on Instagram explaining that he checked himself into rehab at the beginning of the year ‘in order to get the help and support I need during this challenging time.’