This shocking footage shows a drunk driver swerving across lanes on the M25 before driving in the direction of oncoming traffic on a busy A-road.
Dashcam videos show Walerij Mirosznikow swerving from lane to lane on the motorway before driving the wrong way in Kent.
The 53-year-old Russian’s 10-minute drunken joyride only came to an end when he crashed into a roundabout and was arrested by police.
But Mirosznikow, who lives in Chatham in Kent, was spared a jail sentence by a judge who told him it was a ‘miracle’ no one was hurt.
Maidstone Crown Court heard the provisional licence holder drove dangerously on three busy routes in Kent one afternoon in July 2023.
Prosecutor Alban Brahimi told the court that Mirosznikow was first seen swerving from lane to lane in his Toyota Yaris on the M25 motorway.
He later drove on the A25 near Sevenoaks only to suddenly stop, mount a central grass verge and perform a five-point turn which left his car facing the wrong direction.
Mirosznikow’s manoeuvre forced bemused oncoming drivers to come to a standstill and then divide as he headed towards and through the two lanes of traffic in front of him.
Dashcam videos show Walerij Mirosznikow swerving from lane to lane on the motorway before driving the wrong way in Kent
The 53-year-old Russian’s 10-minute drunken joyride only came to an end when he crashed into a roundabout and was arrested by police
But Mirosznikow, who lives in Chatham in Kent, was spared a jail sentence by a judge who told him it was a ‘miracle’ no one was hurt
One shocked motorist even opened their door and yelled at him to stop.
However, oblivious to the danger he was causing, Mirosznikow continued on his way before eventually he managed to pull onto the correct side of the road.
His drunken journey finally came to an end when he crashed into Beggars Lane roundabout in Westerham and was arrested.
Upon his arrest, the court heard Mirosznikow was alone in the car, despite not having a full driver’s licence, had his full beam headlights on, and appeared ‘shocked and drunk’.
He gave a breath-alcohol reading of 136 micrograms (mcg) where the legal drink-drive limit is 35mcg.
But despite his driving being described as ‘atrocious’, the twice-married Russian was not only spared prison but also handed the minimum driving ban required by law for his offending.
Mr Brahimi said that as well as him not once using his indicators, Mirosznikow also straddled lanes and braked without reason causing other vehicles to do the same ‘rather harshly’ and to veer out of his way to avoid being hit.
Although he did not appear to be speeding, dashcam footage from a vehicle tailing his Yaris showed the car travelling erratically between 54 and 66mph.
Mirosznikow gave a breath-alcohol reading of 136 micrograms (mcg) where the legal drink-drive limit is 35mcg
Describing Mirosznikow’s offending, Mr Brahimi told the court it was not the result of ‘a lapse in judgement’.
‘It’s prolonged, continuous driving,’ he said.
‘There were ten minutes where he was caught on dashcam and then a further four minutes before he reached the roundabout.
‘There was also the highly dangerous manoeuvre of driving the wrong way, having taken a turn when there was no turn available.
‘Fortunately, no injury was caused to others but damage was done to his vehicle.’
Mirosznikow gave two no comment interviews following his arrest – even after being shown the footage – but later admitted dangerous driving, drink-driving and driving without a licence.
He was fined £40 by Sevenoaks Magistrates Court for driving without a licence but his more serious charges were sent to the crown court for sentencing.
At his sentence, Mirosznikow’s defence barrister, Eleanor Gwilym, told Recorder Nicola Williams that her client’s behaviour that day was ‘an anomaly in his life’.
Mirosznikow gave two no comment interviews following his arrest – even after being shown the footage – but later admitted dangerous driving, drink-driving and driving without a licence
She said: ‘He now feels stupid and remorseful and has explained to me that he had a rather difficult time in his life at the time this was committed and a fairly recent breakdown of his marriage.
‘It can properly be seen as a one-off and he is capable of being rehabilitated.
‘He has not drunk at all since this incident, not even socially.’
She also told the court that Mirosznikow has been in the UK for 12 years, has one previous conviction for theft and is currently on benefits.
Recorder Williams remarked that his ‘impressive’ 17-month alcohol abstinence demonstrated that he was ‘taking his offending seriously’.
‘I think it is always a real shame when someone reaches the age of 52, which you were then, and 53 now, and finds themself in the dock,’ she told Mirosznikow, who was assisted in court by an interpreter.
‘You are now a drink-driver and a thief. But there is always something positive that can be said for anyone and that includes you.
‘You pleaded guilty at the first opportunity so you didn’t waste the court’s time and additional money on an unnecessary trial.
Recorder Williams imposed a 12-month jail term suspended for 18 months, with 200 hours of unpaid work and up to 25 rehabilitation activity requirement days
‘I have also read the pre-sentence report about the breakdown of your second marriage and the immensely personal reasons for it, that you are suffering from depression, and that at least now have attempted to deal with it with medication.
‘You have also not had a drink, I’m told, since this incident. That is particularly impressive.
‘However, as impressive as that is and the strength it takes to not drink alcohol for such a long period of time, your driving was absolutely atrocious.
‘You made a deliberate decision to ignore the rules of the road. It was a prolonged piece of dangerous driving over at least ten minutes.
‘Everything was impaired by drink. You were nearly four times the legal amount.
‘It was only by some miracle that you didn’t damage anyone else’s vehicle, cause anyone injury or, in the way you were driving while being so much over the limit, killed somebody.’
Recorder Williams imposed a 12-month jail term suspended for 18 months, with 200 hours of unpaid work and up to 25 rehabilitation activity requirement days.
She also gave Mirosznikow the statutory minimum one-year driving ban applicable to offences of dangerous driving and drink-driving, although he was ordered to take an extended test to obtain a licence.
He must also pay £150 court costs and £187 victim surcharge.
