Jailed, the drink-driver with SIX convictions

A DRUNK driver almost three times over the legal limit led police on a dangerous chase after celebrating his forthcoming wedding with a night on the town.

Mokbul Ali (29) who already had five convictions for drink-driving, almost ploughed into a marked patrol car on Chadderton Road when his BMW car was on the wrong side of the road.

The police driver had to brake sharply to avoid a collision, then turned and followed the BMW.

Manchester Crown Court was told Ali, of Hilda Street, Oldham, drove erratically, mounted the kerb and braked suddenly.

The patrol car pulled up behind, but as one of the officers got out, the BMW fled down a lane marked no-entry and through red lights. In Lucerne Close, police saw Ali on foot, when he dropped a set of keys for the car.

The court heard he was obviously intoxicated and incoherent.

Jailing him for 12 months, Judge Maurice Greene told him: “You have an appalling driving record. The fact nobody was seriously injured or killed was down to pure luck.”

Ali admitted drinking a half-bottle of vodka before going into Oldham town centre on January 7, where he had at least two more large glasses.

His alcohol level was 90 - against a legal limit of 35.

Mark Fireman, defending, said his client was celebrating his coming marriage in Bangladesh, which happened earlier this month. He came home six days later to appear in court.

Ali had pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, driving with excess alcohol and failing to stop. He was also disqualified from driving for three years.