Dashcam footage shows Walerij Mirosznikow swerving across lanes and dodging traffic on the busy M25 before performing a five-point turn and driving into oncoming traffic
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Drunk driver swerves across M25 lanes before driving into traffic
Shocking dashcam footage shows a drunk driver swerving across the M25 before heading into oncoming traffic on a busy A road.
Walerij Mirosznikow, 53, from Russia but living in Chatham, Kent, ended his 10-minute drunken joyride by crashing into a roundabout. He was arrested by police at the scene. Maidstone Crown Court heard how the provisional licence holder was first seen swerving from lane to lane in his Toyota Yaris on the M25 in July 2023.
He later drove on the A25 near Sevenoaks before stopping, mounting a central grass verge and performing a five-point turn which left his car facing the wrong direction. Bemused oncoming drivers stopped and turned out of Mirosznikow’s way as he headed through two lanes of traffic. One motorist even opened their car door and shouted at him to stop.
Mirosznikow eventually managed to pull onto the correct side of the road. His journey finally came to an end when he crashed into Beggars Lane roundabout in Westerham and was arrested.
The court heard Mirosznikow was alone in the car when arrested, despite not having a full driver’s licence. He had his full beam headlights on and appeared “shocked and drunk”. He gave a breath-alcohol reading of 136mcg – the legal driving limit is 35mcg.
Mirosznikow was spared jail by the judge, who told him it was a “miracle” no one was hurt. He was handed the minimum driving ban required by law for his offending.
Prosecutor Alban Brahimi said as well as not once using his indicators, Mirosznikow straddled lanes and braked without reason, causing other vehicles to do the same “rather harshly” to avoid being hit. Dashcam footage showed the car travelling erratically between 54mph and 66mph.
Mr Brahimi said: “There were 10 minutes where he was caught on dashcam and then a further four minutes before he reached the roundabout […] There was also the highly dangerous manoeuvre of driving the wrong way, having taken a turn when there was no turn available […] Fortunately, no injury was caused to others but damage was done to his vehicle.”
Mirosznikow gave two no comment interviews following his arrest but later admitted dangerous driving, drink-driving and driving without a licence. He was fined £40 by Sevenoaks Magistrates Court for driving without a licence but his more serious charges were sent to the crown court for sentencing.
At his sentencing, Mirosznikow’s defence barrister Eleanor Gwilym told Recorder Nicola Williams her client’s behaviour was “an anomaly in his life”. She said: “He now feels stupid and remorseful and has explained to me that he had a rather difficult time in his life at the time this was committed and a fairly recent breakdown of his marriage […] It can properly be seen as a one-off and he is capable of being rehabilitated. He has not drunk at all since this incident, not even socially.”
She also said Mirosznikow has been in the UK for 12 years, has one previous conviction for theft and is currently on benefits. Recorder Williams remarked that his “impressive” 17-month alcohol abstinence demonstrated that he was “taking his offending seriously”.
Recorder Williams imposed a 12-month jail term suspended for 18 months, with 200 hours of unpaid work and up to 25 rehabilitation activity requirement days. She also gave Mirosznikow the statutory minimum one-year driving ban applicable to offences of dangerous driving and drink-driving, although he was ordered to take an extended test to obtain a licence. He must also pay £150 court costs and £187 victim surcharge.
