Alan Carr's ex-husband Paul Drayton begs the DVLA to hand him his driving licence back as he's 'turned my life around' two years after ban following drink-drive crash: 'I'm at my wits end'

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Alan Carr's ex-husband Paul Drayton has begged the DVLA to hand his driving licence back, two years after he was banned from the roads. 

The 51-year-old - who split from the comedian back in 2022 - has said he has 'turned my life around' after the wake-up call. 

Paul, who has a well documented battle with alcoholism, narrowly escaped jail after reversing into a police car with an alcohol test reading 'off the scale' on October 9 2022. 

Taking to Instagram, Paul shared the message he had sent to the DVLA, where he told them he was at his 'wits end' after attempts so far to get his licence haven't gone anywhere. 

He wrote: 'I lost my licence back in October 2021 due to a very grave mistake. I got a three year driving ban. I paid and took a course to lessen it which took me to 3rd May 2024.

Alan Carr 's ex-husband Paul Drayton has begged the DVLA to hand his driving licence back, two years after he was banned from the roads

Paul, who has a well documented battle with alcoholism, narrowly escaped jail after reversing into a police car with an alcohol test reading 'off the scale' on October 9 2022

'As you can imagine, I was looking forward to getting my life back and being independent again.

'I applied for my licence in good time and paid the fees and went for a medical. Knowing I was fit and healthy and my life had changed considerable for the last 2 and a half years since my divorce.'

Paul explained he completed forms from his GP and explained he had been give a late diagnosis of ADHD and so struggled understanding them.

He went on to express his frustrations about waiting for the medical team to review his case as not being able to drive has 'huge financial implications' as well as his hopes of visiting his elderly parents up north. 

Paul ranted: 'I do not live in an area where I am close to public transport. I have been relying on the help of others which as you can imagine is not good at all.

'My elderly parents are in the North east and I have 3 dogs and need to be there to help them as they are going through personal issues.

'My mood is low, I feel trapped and my mental health is being affected by this massively. I feel my hands are tied behind my back and I am banging my head against a brick wall.'

Taking to Instagram, Paul shared his message he had sent to the DVLA, where he told them he was at his 'wits end' after attempts so far to get his licence haven't got anywhere

He went on to express his frustrations about waiting for the medical team to review his case

Paul ranted: 'I do not live in an area where I am close to public transport. I have been relying on the help of others which as you can imagine is not good at all'

Alan and Paul were married by Adele in her Los Angeles garden in 2018 but they split in 2022 (pictured together in 2020) 

'Sobriety': Paul shared a statement on Instagram about the separation, explaining that he 'proactively' checked himself into rehab at the beginning of 2022 to seek help for alcoholism

Paul said he is at his 'wits end' as he asked for the DVLA to escalate his review and has contacted his local MP. 

MailOnline has contacted the DVLA for comment.  

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 4x4 into a police car with an alcohol test reading 'off the scale'.

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.

Alan has since moved on with hairdress Callum Heslop, 27, after the breakdown of his marriage

'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.' 

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 4x4 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.'