A 47-YEAR-OLD man drove the wrong way down the M11 for more than a mile near Stansted Airport after missing his turning, a court heard.
Unemployed Surinder Budwhal, from Slough, admitted dangerous driving and failing to provide a specimen, when he appeared before Harlow magistrates on Thursday.
Prosecutor Barry Hargreaves told the court that police received a number of calls at about 2.45am on Sunday, January 9, reporting a vehicle travelling in the wrong direction on the northbound carriageway between junctions eight (Stansted) and nine.
He said: "The police were travelling the right way on the carriageway when they saw a car coming towards them and pass them. They turned round and followed on the hard shoulder. They saw the car turn round and proceed along the right way."
The car was stopped and Budwhal was asked to provide a breath sample. He smelt of liquor, and one officer said the smell in the car was "overpowering".
Budhwal was arrested and taken to a police station. He was asked to provide a sample of breath, but failed to give an adequate sample three times.
In mitigation, David Mackintosh said Budwhal, a single father of three, was taking a friend to the airport.
"He came off the motorway at a roundabout and had missed a turning. He found another way back on to the motorway, and made the error from that."
Magistrates adjourned the case until Monday, February 28, for background reports to be prepared.
Budwhal was remanded on unconditional bail, and given an interim driving disqualification.
