Man who rode e-bike wrong way on M6 sentenced

A man who rode an unlit electric bike the wrong way along a motorway in the dark has been sentenced.

Abdullah Osman, 31, was stopped by police near Carlisle after several motorists reported seeing him travelling against traffic on the M6 at about 00:30 GMT on 12 December.

The court heard Osman, of Brunswick Street, Carlisle, was riding without a licence, insurance, lights, reflective equipment or protective gear during the incident between junctions 43 and 44. He was given a 12-month prison sentence suspended for one year.

District Judge Philip Holden told him: "The standard of your driving was exceptionally poor, and you put yourself and other road users at risk."

Prosecutor George Shelley told Carlisle Magistrates' Court earlier, an officer "observed the vehicle riding [the wrong way] up the entrance slip road off the M6".

Police located Osman on the site of the Tesco store, off Warwick Road.

"The bike has then gone the wrong way through a no entry sign into the filling station," said Shelley. "Emergency equipment was activated and the electric bike was stopped."

In court, Osman admitted dangerous driving, driving otherwise than in accordance than with a licence, and no insurance.

"There is a deliberate decision to ignore the rules of the road," said Shelley.

Defence lawyer Kate Hunter, mitigating, said a lengthy pre-sentence report had been prepared for the hearing by a probation officer after speaking to Osman who had not passed a practical theory test by the time the incident occurred.

"It obviously was very dangerous for himself and potentially for other road users," said Hunter.

She said Osman was "a man of good character" and "hard-working" adding that he said going the wrong way down the motorway was "a genuine mistake".

Osman was also fined £400, banned from driving for 18 months and must pass an extended test before obtaining a licence.

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