Wrong-way driver from Peterborough who caused a coach to overturn into a ditch gets suspended prison sentence

Shahid Malik (36) of Elmfield Road, was driving on the A141 towards March at about 6.15am on October 30 last year when his dangerous driving caused a coach, carrying about 70 people, to leave the road and end up in a ditch.

Twenty-two people suffered injuries, all minor apart from one woman in her 50s who suffered serious, but not life-threatening, injuries. The woman and four others were taken to Peterborough City Hospital.

On April 27, Malik pleaded guilty to dangerous driving at Cambridge Crown Court.

Later the same day he was sentenced to three months in prison, suspended for 18 months, 200 hours of unpaid work and has been disqualified from driving for 12 months. Malik was also ordered to re-sit a driving test and pay a £80 victim surcharge.

PC Sean Redman, who investigated, said: “This incident affected a lot of people and could have quite easily resulted in much more damage and devastation.

“Dangerous driving is a serious offence and the sentence reflects this.”