Man drives nine miles the wrong way down M25

Video: Man drives 9 miles the wrong way down M25

A motorist who drove the wrong way for nine miles down major roads including Britain's busiest motorway has been banned from driving for three years.

Mitchell Locke's black BMW was seen travelling in an anti-clockwise direction on the clockwise section of the M25 in Kent.

After leaving the motorway the 20-year-old continued driving into oncoming traffic trying to join the A2, a major dual carriageway, before finally colliding with two other vehicles on a sliproad. Words: PA

He has been banned from driving for three years and sentenced to 14 months in a young offenders' institute.

Much of the extraordinary ten minute journey in September was captured on CCTV and Locke was sentenced at Dartford and Gravesham Magistrates Court on Friday after pleading guilty to dangerous driving.

Police said it was "remarkable" that no one was hurt.

Sergeant Rob Dell said: '"For around 10 minutes, Locke travelled the wrong direction on a major motorway and a major dual-carriageway. Where there was no hard shoulder he would move out into the live carriageway into oncoming traffic. It is remarkable there were no serious injuries."

He said reports of a vehicle driving the wrong way on the M25 near junction four began coming in shortly before 2.30pm on September 4.

"People were calling 999 to tell us drivers were having to move out of the way of the ongoing car," he said.

"The vehicle came off the motorway at junction three, the Swanley Interchange, then rejoined the carriageway and continued the wrong way to junction two. Still against the flow of traffic, the BMW came off at the Darenth Interchange and continued the wrong way by heading east, towards Canterbury, on the London-bound A2.

"The car exited at the busy Bean Interchange, heading into oncoming traffic trying to join the A2. Finally, on the sliproad at 2:39pm, the BMW collided with a Suzuki Swift and a Nissan Leaf."

Locke, of Kenley in South London, will have to take an extended driving test before he is allowed to get behind the wheel again.

Watch the video below of Locke driving