Swindon man jailed for driving down M4 in wrong direction
Officers say the consequences could have been "catastrophic"
Last updated 25th Jan 2022
A man from Swindon, who drove the wrong way down the M4, has been jailed.
Reggie Reed drove against the flow of traffic on December 13, after being pursued by police.
Officers attempted to stop Reggie Reed on the westbound carriageway, near Junction 15.
Despite initially pulling-over onto the hard shoulder, the 21-year-old then accelerated off. He crossed two lanes of traffic, whilst the motorway was busy and dark.
When Reed approached stationary vehicles, he performed a u-turn and started driving against the flow of traffic.
Due to the risk to other road users, police used a tactical manoeuvre to stop the Kingshill Road resident.
'The most dangerous manoeuvre I have witnessed on the motorway'
Appearing at Swindon Crown Court on January 14, Reed was sentenced for dangerous driving, driving while disqualified, failing to stop for police and driving without insurance.
He was given an eight-month jail term, as well as being disqualified from driving for two years.
PC Luke Hobbs, the police officer conducting the pursuit, said: "This was the most dangerous manoeuvre I have witnessed on the motorway, and stopping him from driving the wrong way down the M4 was my only option and something I did automatically.
"The consequences if I had allowed him to keep driving could have been catastrophic and I would rather risk injury to myself than put members of the public at risk".