Rolling roadblock used as drunk taxi driver with 90-year-old mum in car seen swerving around on M1
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A drunk taxi driver was seen swerving around the northbound M1 in Leicestershire, prompting a rolling roadblock to be used to protect other motorists and bring him to a halt. A National Highways officer had spotted Nadarajah Balan swerving between the first and second lanes of the motorway near Ratby while driving with his 90-year-old mother in the passenger seat of his Volkswagen.
The officer called in Leicestershire Police to form a moving blockade around the car to keep other motorists away from Balan and then bring him to a halt. After he came to a stop Balan, 47, staggered out of the vehicle smelling of alcohol, and failed a roadside breath test.
Balan was arrested and taken to a police station, where he gave a reading of 69 microgrammes per 100ml of breath - nearly twice the legal limit of 35 microgrammes. At Leicester Magistrates' Court on Wednesday (February 5) he pleaded guilty to drink-driving.
Commenting on the incident, which happened at about 6.40pm on Sunday, January 19, David Jennings, representing Balan, said his client did not realise he had been drinking alcohol. He added that at the time he was pulled over, Balan had been feeling drowsy and planning to pull over to rest.
Mr Jennings said: "He had been drinking orange juice that was in the car. He thought it tasted bitter but continued to drink it. He realised that orange was laced with something."
Mr Jennings told the court that Balan would now lose his job as a taxi driver and struggle to pay his mortgage. Mr Jennings said: "He's going to find life difficult going forward. I would urge you to keep his ban to the minimum."
Balan, of Sunnyside Avenue, Shildon, Durham, was banned from driving for 20 months. He was also fined £120 and ordered to pay £85 court costs and a £48 victim surcharge.
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