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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| U-turn motorway driver given ban | U-turn motorway driver given ban |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| A man who drove for nearly eight miles down the wrong way on the M4 has been given a two year suspended jail term. | A man who drove for nearly eight miles down the wrong way on the M4 has been given a two year suspended jail term. |
| Ali Abdo, 68, originally from Yemen, was also banned from driving for five years at Swindon Crown Court. | Ali Abdo, 68, originally from Yemen, was also banned from driving for five years at Swindon Crown Court. |
| The court was told he caused several accidents driving at 80mph near Swindon last February. | The court was told he caused several accidents driving at 80mph near Swindon last February. |
| He was flagged down by frantic police signalling from the central reservation as he drove to Cardiff after picking his wife up from Heathrow Airport. | He was flagged down by frantic police signalling from the central reservation as he drove to Cardiff after picking his wife up from Heathrow Airport. |
| In court Abdo, who admitted the offences, was described as a nervous driver who had never driven on a motorway before. | In court Abdo, who admitted the offences, was described as a nervous driver who had never driven on a motorway before. |
| 'Dramatic' U-turn | 'Dramatic' U-turn |
| The prosecution said he was actually given the correct directions by a cab driver but as he travelled the right way on the M4 towards his home in Cardiff, he became convinced for some reason that he was driving in the wrong direction. | The prosecution said he was actually given the correct directions by a cab driver but as he travelled the right way on the M4 towards his home in Cardiff, he became convinced for some reason that he was driving in the wrong direction. |
| He then pulled over onto the hard shoulder, completed a "dramatic" U-turn and drove seven-and-a-half miles back towards junction 15. | |
| Abdo said he had a "panic attack" and believed after the U-turn that he was genuinely driving in the right direction. | Abdo said he had a "panic attack" and believed after the U-turn that he was genuinely driving in the right direction. |
| He was slowed to 30mph by police who chased alongside him on the opposite carriageway. | He was slowed to 30mph by police who chased alongside him on the opposite carriageway. |
| They then raced on ahead, pulled over, jumped over the central reservation and stood on the carriageway signaling him to stop. | They then raced on ahead, pulled over, jumped over the central reservation and stood on the carriageway signaling him to stop. |
| Once he pulled over near to Membury Services, police said he still did not realise what he had done. | Once he pulled over near to Membury Services, police said he still did not realise what he had done. |
| His wife Fatma, 38, had to be helped out of the car and was taken to Great Western Hospital for treatment for severe shock. | His wife Fatma, 38, had to be helped out of the car and was taken to Great Western Hospital for treatment for severe shock. |
| Speaking outside the court, Abdo said he felt "terrible" and that he "still dreams about it now". | Speaking outside the court, Abdo said he felt "terrible" and that he "still dreams about it now". |