Drink-driver who went wrong way on M4 near Reading jailed

  • Published
Media caption,

Footage shows police clipping Lee Johnson's van

A man who drove the wrong way down a motorway while more than three times the drink-drive limit has been jailed.

Lee Johnson, 44, steered his red Citroen van against the run of traffic on the M4 near Reading.

Police brought him to a stop by clipping his vehicle with a patrol car on 15 December.

Johnson, of Colman Road in London, pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing and was sentenced at Reading Crown Court on Friday to 18 months in prison.

He admitted dangerous driving, driving whilst over the prescribed alcohol limit and driving without insurance.

Image source, Thames Valley Police
Image caption,
Lee Johnson was more than three times the drink-drive limit when he steered his van the wrong way down the M4

Thames Valley Police said Johnson had 120 micrograms of alcohol per 100ml of breath when he was breathalysed at the scene. The legal limit is 35 micrograms.

Sgt Gaz Doughty said: "It is extremely lucky on this occasion that no-one was seriously hurt or killed."

He said the officers who stopped Johnson had demonstrated "quick thinking and courageous actions" to prevent "a devastating collision with other motorists".

"Despite the obvious risks to themselves and potential for sustaining injuries, the officers made a quick decision to make deliberate contact with Johnson's van to bring it to a halt," he added.

Related Internet Links

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.