Drunk driver, 49, faces eight years in prison for taking Soviet Cold War-era TANK for a spin around Polish town
- The unnamed driver was arrested for driving the tanks through the streets
- Residents of the area thought they were being attacks and called the police
- He had a passenger in the vehicle which was later taken to a guarded car park
A drunk driver could face up to eight years in prison after taking a Soviet Cold War-era tank for a joyride.
The unnamed driver was arrested after driving the tank through the streets of Pajęczno in Poland earlier this month.
Residents of the area became alarmed as the Soviet T-55 tank, which was at least 60-years-old ploughed down the street on June 12 at around 10pm.
Residents called the police as they believed the driver to be on the attack, but by time officers arrived, he had parked the 40 ton machine.
The tank (pictured above) was spotted by local residents who called the police as they believed they were under attack
The Soviet T-55 tank, which was at least 60-years-old ploughed down the street on June 12
According to Polish newspaper Twoje Pajęczno, the driver was thought to have been 49-years-old and had been putting the tank on and off its trailer.
However when the trailer broke and the vehicle was being repaired, in his drunken state, he decided to take the war machine out for a spin.
The vehicle was uninsured and after he had been bustling down the street, he decided to park it on a main street.
Police were greeted with him standing at the side of the tank, with another man who was believed to have been a passenger.
When police arrived they found the man standing next to the tank with another man who was believed to have been a passenger
He was arrested by police and could face an eight year prison sentence if charged with creating ‘direct danger of a catastrophe in land, water or air traffic’. However a lesser charge would be two years for driving under the influence.
The vehicle was left to sit in the village, which has around 7,000 residents, until 5am the next morning, when an ex-soldier, who was experienced in the mechanical operations of the tank, was able to load it onto a tow truck.
It was then taken to a guarded car park.
The tank itself was introduced into service shortly after WWI, at this time both T-45 and T-55 tanks became the vehicle of choice for armoured divisions belonging to the Soviets, Warsaw Pact nations and other countries.
They are the most produced tanks in history and have been involved in armed skirmishes since the 1950s and 1960s.
Army operatives have previously stated that the T-55 is an easier model to operate than comparable designs in the West, as it does not require a high level of education or training.