Driver on ketamine who drove wrong way down M6 was desperate to see Blackpool beach

Imran Zaman continued to evade police even after a stinger was deployed (Image: AP/Getty Photos)

A motorist excessive on horse tranquilisers drove in the direction of oncoming visitors at 70mph for 46 miles as a result of he was ‘determined to see Blackpool seaside’.

Imran Zaman’s harmful journey solely got here to finish after repeated makes an attempt from police to cease his car.

A court docket has heard how he continued to hurry down the motorway even after his tyres had been shredded by a stinger gadget.

The 40-year-old was jailed for 18 months after admitting to harmful driving at Carlisle Crown Courtroom.

When Zaman’s Nissan Juke was lastly pulled over after a 35-minute pursuit, he was discovered to have 138mcg of Class-B drug ketamine in his system; 20mcg being the authorized quantity.

Prosecutor Tim Evans mentioned the alarm was raised simply after 1am on January 22 this yr.

A police officer in Scotland, who had been escorting an irregular load alongside the motorway, had seen Zaman driving southwards at 70mph on the motorway’s northbound carriageway.

Zaman was seven instances over the authorized restrict for ketamine when he was pulled over (Image: AP)

Fearing for the general public’s security, the officer deserted his escort obligation and started to shadow Zaman’s Nissan automobile.

Activating his lights and sirens, the officer adopted the Nissan which travelled into oncoming visitors earlier than a number of extra police vehicles additionally tried to cease the automobile.

On two events, law enforcement officials positioned their patrol vehicles throughout two lanes of the motorway, hoping to decelerate or cease Zaman, however he did not do both and officers deemed it too harmful to ram him.

Mr Evans mentioned: ‘He merely sped previous, the fallacious means, within the exterior lane.’

The reckless driver was jailed for 18 months and handed a 33 month driving ban (Image: Getty Photos)

At Junction 42, Zaman briefly stopped to let three males get out of the automobile however he then resumed his journey.

Mr Evans added: ‘In the end, there was 46 miles price of driving, in extra of 35 minutes, the fallacious means alongside the carriageway.’

The police stinger gadget was deployed close to to junction 41 which ‘deflated all 4 tyres however even that didn’t trigger the defendant to cease; he continued dashing southbound.’

The defendant was ultimately stopped close to to Junction 39 after police created a rolling roadblock with their vehicles.

Mr Evans added: ‘The defendant got here out of his car trying dazed and underneath the affect of medicine. He talked about driving to Blackpool seaside to clear his head.

‘He mentioned his thoughts was gone. He didn’t actually discover the police vehicles or the blue lights flashing previous.’

Jeff Smith, defending, mentioned his shopper had no earlier convictions.

When requested about Zaman’s ‘horrible’ boast that he would proceed taking medication, the lawyer informed the choose: ‘He tells me the probation officer acquired him at a low level.

‘He is aware of that his drug use should finish in any other case he's going to kill himself or kill any individual else.’

Jailing him for 18 months, Decide James Adkin informed Zaman: ‘You engaged in a unprecedented piece of harmful driving.

That is far too severe for it to be suspended.’

Zaman, of Blackburn, Lancs, was additionally given a 33-month driving ban and informed he should cross an prolonged retest earlier than driving independently once more.

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