A boozy driver has admitted reversing in the wrong direction for more than a mile along the M6 motorway – because he did not have any money to pay the toll charge.
Peter Harrison, 46, was almost two-and-a-half times the drink drive limit when he reached the booth and realised he could not afford to pay the £5.50 toll.
He reversed his Vauxhall Corsa for more than a mile in the wrong direction before he was stopped by traffic police near a slip road in the early hours of July 7.
Harrison, who was driving to his home in Pelsall, Staffs., at the time, was breathalysed and was found to have 82mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35mcg.
On Tuesday Harrison admitted dangerous driving and drink driving when he appeared at Cannock Magistrates Court.
Prosecutor John Peel said: “Harrison was seen in the Vauxhall Corsa just before midnight on July 7 this year when an officer was on mobile patrol.
“He told police he had only consumed one-and-a-half pints on that evening and had lost his way home.
“He accepted his actions were dangerous.”
The court heard Harrison decided to reverse along the hard shoulder of the M6 because he “panicked.”
Brij Chaudhry, defending, said: “He is travelling home, he loses his way and ends up on the M6 Toll Road which he has never been on before.
“He starts panicking, he has little funds, he doesn’t know how much the toll costs. He has never been in that situation before.
“He takes a most foolish decision and reverses to that service area so he can try and get his bearings.
“There was no accident or injury to any person. It was late at night. The traffic was light.”
