A taxi driver who was nearly twice the legal alcohol limit caused a dramatic rolling roadblock on the M1 after swerving dangerously across lanes with his 90-year-old mother in the car.
Nadarajah Balan, 47, was spotted weaving erratically near Ratby, Leicestershire, prompting a National Highways officer to alert police. Fearing for the safety of other motorists, Leicestershire Police swiftly implemented a moving roadblock to bring Balan’s Volkswagen to a safe stop.
When officers approached the vehicle, they immediately noticed the strong smell of alcohol on Balan’s breath. A roadside breath test confirmed he was over the limit, and a later test at the police station recorded 69 microgrammes of alcohol per 100ml of breath—almost twice the legal limit of 35 microgrammes.
Taxi Driver’s Unusual Defence
Appearing at Leicester Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, 5 February, Balan pleaded guilty to drink-driving. His defence lawyer, David Jennings, argued that Balan had unknowingly consumed alcohol.
“He had been drinking orange juice that was in the car,” Mr. Jennings told the court. “He thought it tasted bitter but continued to drink it. He later realised that the orange juice was laced with something.”
The court heard that Balan had been feeling drowsy and was planning to pull over when police stopped him. Mr. Jennings also highlighted the devastating consequences of the incident, including the loss of Balan’s taxi licence and the potential inability to pay his mortgage.
“He’s going to find life difficult going forward,” Mr. Jennings said, urging the court to impose the minimum ban possible.
Sentencing and Consequences
Despite the plea, Balan, from Shildon, County Durham, was handed a 20-month driving ban. He was also fined £120, ordered to pay £85 in court costs, and a £48 victim surcharge.
The incident, which took place at 6:40 pm on Sunday, 19 January, serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of drink-driving.
Source: Chat GPT
