Man who ignored M4 road closure banned from driving for 15 months

A man who ignored a road closure on the M4 and put the lives of Highways workers at risk has been banned from driving for 15 months.

Atanas Bakov, 55, of Turner Street, Swindon, was driving a Peugeot 3008 at approximately 9.45pm on January 19 when he approached junction 17 of the M4.

Clear road signs at the junction indicated the M4 was closed between the hours of 8pm and 6am to allow Highways workers to carry out road signage works.

Cones and signs were in place across the entrance slip at junction 17 eastbound, but despite this, Bakov approached the sliproad and drove straight through the road closure, knocking cones over before driving along the M4 where approximately 20 Highways employees were carrying out work in live lane. He exited at junction 16 where he was pulled over by a police officer and arrested for dangerous driving.

He appeared at Swindon Magistrates Court on February 22 and pleaded guilty to the offence. He was given an 18 month community order, a 15 month driving disqualification and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £95 and £85 costs.

PC Jay Clifton, of the Roads Policing Unit, said: “Road closures such as this one are put in place so essential work can be carried out on our road networks safely.

"Bakov’s actions were thoughtless and dangerous – by driving along the M4 while a group of workers were carrying out maintenance, he put their lives at serious risk. It is extremely fortunate that nobody was injured. I am pleased he has been put before the courts and sentenced for his actions.”