Man banned from driving for going wrong way on M23

Neil Dean drove the wrong way for several miles

Author: Adam GoacherPublished 11th Nov 2021

A man who drove the wrong way along the M23 for several miles has been banned from driving for 18 months.

Neil Dean, 58, of Headcorn Road, Smarden, Kent, was stopped by the Roads Policing Unit near junction 9 of the M23 in the early hours of July 29.

When he was stopped, a number of vehicles had to change lanes to avoid a head on collision with Dean.

Crawley Magistrates' Court imposed a one-year community order and disqualified Dean from driving for 18 months. He will also need to take an extended retest if he wishes to drive again.

The court also ordered Dean to complete 100 hours of unpaid work and eight rehabilitation sessions, and to pay £85 costs and a £95 surcharge.

PC Smith said: “This is a good court result to take a dangerous driver off our roads.

“Dean’s driving put himself and other road users’ lives at risk by driving the wrong way along the M23 for nearly five miles.”

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