Chaos as Man Wanted to 'Try Driving on the Left'

A Lithuanian tourist who wanted to find out what it was like driving on the left wrecked a bus shelter and restaurant window as he tried to find out.

Former soldier Rokas Panceris, 24, mounted the kerb on Burton Street, in Nottingham, and caused the damage before panic took over, a court has heard.

He then went through red traffic lights on South Sherwood Street before shooting across a busy crossroads on Mansfield Road, at around 8.40pm on July 16.

Witnesses noted the personalised number plate of the vehicle and police attended a Nottingham home. Panceris admitted being the driver and was not over the drink-drive limit.

Polly Morley, mitigating, said:

"He wanted to experience driving on the opposite side of the road. It is unfortunate that he lost control of the back end which led to the complete loss of control of the vehicle.

"Luckily nobody was injured. He panicked and accepts it was very, very stupid. He should have remained at the scene and confronted everyone."

Panceris, who was assisted in court by an interpreter, had never been in trouble in his homeland or in the UK. He has been handed an immediate driving ban.

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The Johnson Partnership

Motoring Solicitors