Former Cambridge taxi driver Tanvir Chowdhury spared jail after driving wrong way on A11 for milesA former Cambridge taxi driver has been spared jail after driving his cab three miles the wrong way on the A11.
Tanvir Chowdhury, of Ditton Fields, Cambridge, dodged vehicles as he drove the cab into incoming traffic with two female passengers in the back on February 22, last year.
The passengers on the taxi journey between the city centre and West Wratting were said to have been left "terrified" by the ordeal.
After the incident, the 30-year-old visited the victims in the village and tried to persuade them to keep quiet by offering free taxi rides.
At Cambridge Crown Court on Wednesday, the father-of-one was given a suspended prison sentence after being convicted of the crimes in a trial in February.
A jury had found him guilty of one count of dangerous driving and another count of perverting the course of justice.
Chowdhury, who had been a Cambridge taxi driver at the time, picked up the two young women from Cambridge city centre in the early hours of February 22, 2014.
On the way to their destination in West Wratting, Chowdhury missed the turn on a roundabout and went down a slip road on the A11.
Instead of going with the flow of traffic, he drove northbound on the southbound carriageway for three miles, the court heard.
Cars were having to jump out of the way of the taxi until he finally pulled over when he came close to hitting a motorcyclist on tChe carriageway.
Despite his conviction by jury, the court heard how the married man still maintained his innocence.
Jacqueline Appleton, mitigating, urged for the impact of the charges on the defendant to be recognised.
She said: "The impact has been huge in terms of the relationship with his partner. I have seen the deterioration in his mental health.
"He was suspended form employment for the charge. He has no previous convictions for motoring offences."
Chowdhury, who has plans to study at Cambridge Regional College, was given a four month prison sentence suspended for 12 months.
Judge Patrick O'Brien said: "You were convicted by a jury on ample evidence of dangerous driving and interfering with the course of justice.
"It's a serious matter. It's a deliberate disregard of the safety of others."
He added that the passengers had been left "terrified" following the incident where he drove into incoming traffic.
But he took into account his "previous good character and family circumstances" when sentencing.
On the witness intimidation charge - of offering free taxi rides - Judge O'Brien called it the "least attractive inducement" and a "pathetic attempt".
He was given a 12 month community order - with 120 hours unpaid work - for perverting the course of justice.
Chowdhury was ordered to pay £500 in costs and an £80 government surcharge.
The former taxi driver was also disqualified from driving for 18 months.
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