A MOTORIST drove for more than 40 miles into oncoming traffic on the wrong side of the M6 motorway in Cumbria while over the drug drive limit.

The details of 40-year-old Imran Zaman’s terrifying journey through Cumbria are yet to be fully outlined in court but a Carlisle Crown Court judge has warned him that a jail sentence is a 'distinct possibility.'

At an earlier hearing, Zaman, of Topaz Street, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to the following three offences:

* Driving dangerously on the M6 between junctions 45 and 39 on January 22 while travelling south on the northbound carriageway.

* Driving while over the limit for the controlled drug.

* And driving while unfit through drugs. 

Court papers confirm that the defendant was driving a Nissan Juke as police tracked his journey past Carlisle as far south as Junction 39 near Shap.

At the time, the level of ketamine in his body was confirmed to be 138mcg per litre of blood. The legal limit in the UK for driving is 20mcg.

The offences came to light when police in Cumbria were alerted by officers north of the border, who were tracking the defendant’s dangerous late-night journey through Scotland.

The defendant – whose speed was said to be around 70mph - continued driving on the metal rims of his wheels even after police had deployed a stinger device to deflate his tyres.

In court, Judge Nicholas Barker told the defendant that he would allow a further adjournment so that a pre-sentence report can be prepared on the defendant by the Probation Service.

This should have happened in time for the hearing but there were difficulties over retrieving his current contact details for the Probation Service, the court heard.

The judge said: “I will make it clear to the defendant that if there is no report, he will be sentenced without it. This case will be heard on September 28. Just make sure that your details are current and correct.

“Just because I have adjourned, that is not an indication to you of a non-custodial sentence. That remains a distinct possibility. You should be prepared for that.”

The judge stressed that Zaman is now the subject of an interim ban. The eventual length of that ban will be determined on the day of sentence. “So no driving,” the judge told the defendant.

“If you do, it’s an offence.”

Zaman was represented during the hearing by defence lawyer Jeff Smith, who pointed out that the defendant is a man of previous good character.

* Ketamine is legitimately used as a veterinary anaesthetic. While it can make people feel 'chilled', it can also cause confusion, panic attacks, and hallucinations. For more information, go to the FRANK webiste.