Welsh Wrong-way M4 Driver Banned
Discussion
BBC Website said:
Wrong-way M4 driver banned
A woman who drove the wrong way for 30 miles on a motorway has been banned from driving for five years.
Rebecca Denton, 37, later told police that she thought all the other traffic was going the wrong way.
Denton, of Pontypridd, south Wales, had to swerve to avoid oncoming cars and lorries as she drove at up to 80mph.
At Swansea Crown Court she admitted dangerous driving, and was given a three-year rehabilitation order and told to undergo psychiatric treatment.
The court was told Denton had a psychiatric illness at the time she drove west along the eastbound carriageway from junction 36 near Bridgend until the motorway ended at Pont Abraham in Carmarthenshire.
"For someone to drive as you did almost defies belief" said Judge John Diehl
Paul Hobson, prosecuting, said Denton was "heavily intoxicated" but failed to provide a breath sample for examination.
But he said her not guilty plea to failing to provide a sample was accepted because the dangerous driving charge covered the drinking.
The court heard that Denton had collected a friend who had absconded from a psychiatric unit at East Glamorgan Hospital, near Pontypridd, and took her to Cardiff for a night out.
After drinking two pints of lager, the pair decided to head for "a short break" in Tenby 80 miles west. Denton pulled off the motorway at junction 36 to use the Sarn service station.
Mr Hobson said she rejoined the motorway by driving down the exit slipway and began heading west on the eastbound side.
Her Toyota Celica was almost hit immediately by a petrol tanker, whose driver spotted her in the middle lane. He swerved onto the hard shoulder to avoid a collision, and called the police on a mobile phone.
Police caught up with her at junction 44, when patrol cars drove parallel her in the correct carriageway and signalled across the central reservation for her to stop.
"But Williams simply waved at them and Denton fixed her eyes on the road ahead," said Mr Hobson.
At Port Talbot, where the motorway reduces to two lanes, a Renault Clio pulled out to overtake, only to face Denton's car head on. It swerved back into the slow lane, but Denton's car took off the driver's wing mirror.
Further along, Pc Justin Knight "bravely" volunteered to park his car in the centre lane with blue lights flashing hoping Denton would see him and stop, but Mr Hobson said she did not even slow down.
Denton appeared to accelerate on seeing a vehicle approaching her. At junction 49, where the motorway ended, police blocked the eastbound carriageway and waved her down.
After she was arrested, the court heard that Denton told police she thought all the other drivers had been on the wrong side of the road.
Denton also denied assisting a person detained under the Mental Health Act to abscond.
John Holmes, representing Denton, said she had a history of depression and had not been taking her medication. Although under the care of a psychiatrist she was able to lead a normal life in the community.
He said she had no previous convictions and had held a clean driving licence for 20 years.
Sentencing her, Judge John Diehl also ordered her to take an extended driving test before getting her licence back.
"For someone to drive as you did almost defies belief," he said. "It is truly miraculous no-one was injured or killed as a result of your grossly dangerous driving."
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/wales/3621562.stm
The arresting BiB must have found it hard to contain himself when she said she thought everyone else was going the wrong way. And she'd just picked up a mate who'd 'broken out' of the local psychiactric clinic!
wanty1974 said:
[quote=BBC Website]Wrong-way M4 driver banned
A woman who drove the wrong way for 30 miles on a motorway has been banned from driving for five years.
Rebecca Denton, 37, later told police that she thought all the other traffic was going the wrong way.
Ker-ist. Only 5 years? Does this qualify for a Numpty Darwin of the Decade award?
Hang on - she's only 37?! I thought this was some tamazepammed-up grannie with jam-jar bottom specs in a Rover 100. Are we giving licences out on the back of cereal packets now? I'm going to apply for a driving licence for my cat - he'd be a damn sight better than Rebecca thingumebob...
Saw that on the news last night
I use that stretch of road a lot.
Loop hole?
I use that stretch of road a lot. BBC link said:
Paul Hobson, prosecuting, said Denton was "heavily intoxicated" but failed to provide a breath sample for examination.
But he said her not guilty plea to failing to provide a sample was accepted because the dangerous driving charge covered the drinking.
Loop hole?
During WWII a Spitfire landed at the base my father was stationed at because the pilot was lost. He parked outside the control tower and nipped up to ask where he was, leaving the engine running and no handbrake on (!). 27 litres of Rolls-Royce's supercharged best produces a bit of grunt even at idle, with the result that it slowly trundled away, into a hangar where it crashed into two bigger planes.
The point of this tale is that he was court-martialled and banned for LIFE for stupidity. Isn't it time the beaks did that to these numpties? (I appreciate this particular lady may have had psychiatric problems)
CanAm
The point of this tale is that he was court-martialled and banned for LIFE for stupidity. Isn't it time the beaks did that to these numpties? (I appreciate this particular lady may have had psychiatric problems)
CanAm
This i found rather amusing and in line with the mass thinking of this country in present times... Its always someone else's fault but mine... 
How could she be right and the entire rest of the motorway be on the wrong side..?
Honestly, some people..!
BBC Website said:
Denton, 37, later told police that she thought all the other traffic was going the wrong way.
...had to swerve to avoid oncoming cars and lorries as she drove at up to 80mph.
How could she be right and the entire rest of the motorway be on the wrong side..?
Honestly, some people..!
Streetcop said:
Gazboy..
You missed the fact that if you have a mental illness in this country, the laws of the land aren't quite sure how to deal with you...
Street
So the get out for any traffic offence is therefore to plead insanity? I just do not understand why sentencing in this country for any crime is so random and even appears vindictive in some cases. The US style three strikes and you are put away, combined with sensible laws and good policing is probably what all coppers and good citizens
would like to see so why the hell don't the politicians latch onto this and make it their agenda? :sigh: Perhaps we can come up with a Pistonheads league of sentencing, although I suspect most of it will be 'orf with their 'ead!'
Ace-T
ace-t said:
Gazboy..
You missed the fact that if you have a mental illness in this country, the laws of the land aren't quite sure how to deal with you...
Street
I just do not understand why sentencing in this country for any crime is so random and even appears vindictive in some cases. The US style three strikes and you are put away, combined with sensible laws and good policing is probably what all coppers and good citizens
Perhaps we can come up with a Pistonheads league of sentencing, although I suspect most of it will be 'orf with their 'ead!'
Ace-T
If this woman was a dog she'd have been put down, (not you, Ace-t, the stoopid woman driver
). Oh dear, is this seen as a death threat?Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff