Motorists on the M25 were left stunned by the dangerous driving of a hairdresser.

In a bid to get through the slow moving traffic, Ismail Duran weaved between lanes forcing other drivers to swerve out of his way.

In the end he swung his silver Ford Focus into a gap in front of a lorry, smashing into is front wing.

Then after pulling up on the hard shoulder to remonstrate with another driver, Duran, 20, drove off only to suddenly stop and then reverse at speed back along the hard shoulder.

Duran of Brimsdown Avenue, Enfield, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and perverting the course of justice at St Albans Crown Court last week. 

Prosecutor Jan Hayne said the defendant's bad driving had occurred on the evening of Friday, July 10, between Junction 22 for St Albans and Junction 23 for South Mimms.

Traffic was moving at around 30 miles per hour, the court was told, but Duran was a driving a lot faster as he weaved from lane to lane, undertaking, jumping into gaps and tailgating, with other drivers forced into taking evasive action.

Miss Hayne said a female motorist who had seen the crash pulled up onto the hard shoulder, as did the lorry driver and Duran.

The defendant was anxious to leave and when the woman pointed out that if he did so it would be an offence, he swore at her, saying: “My dad is ill in hospital."

Judge John Plumstead hearing the case was told Duran did indeed leave the scene by driving off on the hard shoulder.

But moments later he was seen braking and then reverse his car "aggressively" back down the hard shoulder, stopping just inches from the front of the woman's vehicle.

He then drove off a second time and joined the motorway to continue his journey.

The court heard police were able to trace the defendant and in due course he received a "notice of intended prosecution" through the post which he was required to fill in and return.

But he gave false details in the hope he would wriggle out of trouble.
His story about his dad being ill in hospital on the night of the crash was also a lie.

Judge Plumstead gave him a 15 month prison sentence, which was suspended for 21 months, and banned him from driving for the next three years.

He was also made the subject of a six month home curfew between the hours of 9pm and 4am, and ordered to pay prosecution costs of £1,200.

The judge told him "I don't know what planet you were on that day."

He told Duran in colliding with the lorry he had been at risk of going into a spin in fast moving traffic which could have resulted in "carnage".

"The roads of North London and South Hertfordshire will be safer for not having you on them," said the judge.