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Agony of have-a-go motorist bitten in M4 attack




Attacked trying to stop crazed drink-driver

A GREENHAM man was savagely bitten as he wrestled with a crazed drink-driver who had careered the wrong way up the M4.

The drama happened at the Membury Services and prompted a judge at Reading Crown Court to remark: “It’s lucky no one was killed.”

In the dock was 27-year-old Saiful Miah, who had drunk more than twice the legal limit as he drove the wrong way up the motorway before doing a U-turn and veering into the services area.

The incident was witnessed by stunned recovery driver Mark Allen.

Alan Blake, prosecuting, said: “He (Mr Allen) accosted the driver and asked him why he had been going the wrong way down the motorway, whereupon he gained a clear impression that Mr Miah, the driver, had been drinking.

“Mr Miah went back towards his car, as if to drive off, and Mr Allen leaned in and took the keys, knowing he was in no fit state to drive.”

He added: “That caused Mr Miah to become angry and there was a brief struggle or altercation over the keys.

“During the course of that the defendant bit Mr Allen on the hand, causing a nasty looking injury.”

Father-of-one Mr Allen, who lives at Greenham and works for CMG, was then subjected to a tirade of racist abuse as he wrestled Miah to the ground.

At the hearing on April 4, Miah admitted dangerous driving, driving after drinking more than the legal limit, aggravated assault causing actual bodily harm and driving with no insurance, all on November 12.

He has previous convictions for assault and racially aggravated offences and was subject to a suspended prison sentence order at the time of his latest offending.

John Simmons, defending Miah, who lives at Tavistock Road, Reading, said his client was being treated for mental health problems.

He was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years, banned from driving for three years, ordered to complete 120 hours’ unpaid community work and ordered to pay £535 costs.

Afterwards, 41-year-old Mr Allen revealed he had needed treatment at Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital for the bite wounds to his arm and hand.

He said: “Luckily I was up to date with my tetanus shots.”

His proud wife Laura, who works for Matalan, said: “Who knows what might have happened if Mark hadn’t acted? After what he’d seen he was concerned for the safety of other road users.

“He was in a right state afterwards, with bites up his arm and his clothes all ripped but he felt he had to do something. We’re pleased with the outcome of the court case.”



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