Eight months’ jail for drink-driver

A DRUNK driver from Oldham who defied a road ban and drove into a roundabout after developing an “obsession” with cars has been sent to jail.

Mohammed Ibraham (22), who was banned from driving in May for drink-drive offences, drove off in his car after an argument with his girlfriend at her house, where he had been drinking.

Ibraham, who was double the drink-drive limit, was seen by police on Manchester Street driving towards Oldham at high speed.

The officers followed the BMW and Ibraham crashed into the central reservation and then collided with the roundabout. He suffered minor injuries and no-one else was injured.

At Manchester’s Minshull Street Crown Court, Ibraham, of Denmark Street, was jailed for eight months after he admitted dangerous driving, driving while disqualified, driving without a licence and driving with excess alcohol on August 15.

He was also disqualified from driving for five years and will then have to take a re-test.

Mr Saul Brodie, prosecuting, said after the crash Ibraham was found slumped in the driver’s seat and tried to restart the car.

Mr Brodie added: “He said that he was not driving. His speech was slurred and he smelt of alcohol.

“He later said that he wasn’t the driver and told police to prove it.”

Mr Chudi Grant, defending, said: “My main piece of mitigation is his guilty plea which he made at the first possible opportunity.”

“There aren’t any aggravating features in this case such as racing, or other passengers in the car.”

“In particular, there was no chase and no one had to take any evasive action.

“I also bear in mind that the care was to be sold. There was an advertisement on the car outside his girlfriend’s house.”

“He had an argument with his girlfriend, couldn’t get hold of any friends and he moved the car himself.”

Judge Jonathan Foster QC told Ibraham: “You certainly have an obsession with motor cars and of drink to match. It is a combination of the two that led to your current dilemma.”

“This is your third excess alcohol offence. When driving with excess alcohol, the persons’ driving is impaired, exposing the public to risk.”