Driver went wrong way in bag hunt

Andrew Ince was driving back from a kayaking trip on Anglesey

A scientist twice drove the wrong way down a dual carriageway looking for a bag when it fell from his car roof.

Andrew Ince, 31, a doctor of philosophy from Chester, denied dangerous driving on the A55 near Conwy, but was found guilty by magistrates in Llandudno.

Court chairwoman Anne Roberts said there had been a near miss with another car and a real risk of an accident.

He was disqualified for a year, ordered to pay £920 and was told he must re-sit his driving test.

Helena Jackson, prosecuting, showed magistrates footage from CCTV cameras which showed Ince's Rover turning round in a cycle lane at the eastern entrance to Penmaenbach tunnel, near Conwy, in the early hours last October.

Then he drove in the wrong direction to the Penmaenmawr roundabout for a mile, returning along the eastbound carriageway in the correct direction.

Then he turned round again and drove to the roundabout in the wrong carriageway for another mile, the court was told.

Mrs Jackson said when police spoke to him at the tunnel entrance and asked about the consequences of driving the wrong way along a dual carriageway Ince replied: "Potential death - however, it was unintentional."

'Awful mistake'

He had explained that he and his three male passengers, returning from a kayaking trip to Anglesey, were concerned about the bag and were unaware of an offence.

Ince, of Hoole, Chester, who was described by his solicitor as a process scientist involved in producing neurotoxins, said he believed at the tunnel entrance that it had not been a dual carriageway because of the absence of the other lane.

There were three cars that were driving against his direction, but none had to take evasive action and none flashed him, the court heard.

Stephen Woodside, defending, suggested that it was a case of careless rather than dangerous driving.

"There's no hesitation to admit it was careless driving, an awful mistake made by Dr Ince," he said.

In addition to a year's driving ban, he was fined £450 with £455 costs and a £15 victim surcharge - a total of £920.