Shocking footage shows the moment that dangerous driver swerved towards a stag do minibus on the M6, so that he could grab a can of beer from them through his window.
Paul Holmes' car was right behind another vehicle, driving at 70mph, when he committed the 'stupid' maneuverer. The 24-year-old has now been banned from driving for 15 months.
In a dashcam video, released by Staffordshire Police, Holmes can be seen overtaking another vehicle before pulling back into the middle lane, alongside the minibus which was driving in the right lane of the motorway, between junctions 16 and 17. The civil engineer then swerves over the white lines, partly into the outside lane, to get close enough to the bus to take the can.
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Holmes, of Darkwood Crescent, Clitheroe, Lancashire, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and will have to pass an extended test if he wants to hit the road again, Stoke-on-Trent Live reports. North Staffordshire Justice Centre heard that the motorway was busy at the time, and that the stunt could have had "catastrophic" consequences.
Holmes' solicitor said he had been caught up in a "very exciting day". Debbie Leadbeater said: "He had been to see his children in Birmingham.
"He picked a friend up and they were going to go out in the evening. They were passing this group of people who started to gesticulate and wave to them.
"There was banter with them, they were in high spirits. Momentarily he got caught up in the fervour of the stag party and bizarrely he agreed to take this can and give it to his friend.
"Throughout this time he had full control of the vehicle and did not look away from the road. He just put his hand out. It was momentary stupidity."
Mark Olszewski, chairperson of the bench, told Holmes: "What we saw on the footage has given us a great deal of concern. The potential outcome of that behaviour could have been catastrophic. It could have cost lives."
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