Rogue driver jailed for wrong-way M4 motorway dash to petrol station

A reckless motorist who drove the wrong way down the M4 motorway, narrowly avoiding head-on collisions with other vehicles, has been jailed for 12 months.

Andrew Packwood, 41, of Mounton Road, Chepstow, performed a dangerous U-turn on the M48 before travelling eastbound in the wrong direction towards Magor services on the M4.

Newport Magistrates’ Court heard from prosecutor Anna Parry that Packwood was running low on fuel and attempted to reach the services by turning around on the M48.

The defendant pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, driving whilst disqualified, failing to provide a specimen and driving without insurance.

The offences took place on Tuesday, November 18.

In addition to the 12-month prison sentence, Packwood was banned from driving for five years, six months and 133 days. He was also ordered to pay a £154 surcharge and £85 costs.

The court heard Packwood has a shocking history of previous convictions for driving offences. He was jailed for 22 months in 2020 for driving dangerously after reversing into a police car in Blaina.