An uninsured and unlicensed driver who crashed his car into riverside railings while over the drink-drive limit has been banned from driving for more than a year.

Muhammed Aavesh, 23, of Priory Road, Cambridge, was sentenced at Cambridge Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (6 March) after pleading guilty to drink driving, driving without a licence, and driving without insurance.

The incident happened in the early hours of 13 February, when police officers on patrol heard a loud crash along Riverside, just before 3am. On arrival, officers found two parked cars damaged and a white Hyundai hanging precariously above the river after smashing through metal railings.

Aavesh was found at the scene but initially denied being the driver. He was arrested after failing to provide a roadside breath test. While in custody, he gave an evidential breath reading of 49 microgrammes per 100 millilitres of breath, exceeding the legal limit of 35.

Subsequent CCTV footage from the city centre confirmed that Aavesh had been behind the wheel moments before the collision.

He was handed a 14-month driving disqualification and ordered to pay a £50 fine.

PC Olivia Webster, who led the investigation, said:

“Even a small amount of alcohol can slow your reactions, blur your judgement, and turn a routine drive into a deadly risk for the driver and everyone else on the road.
Aavesh is very lucky to walk away uninjured on this occasion and we hope it is a lesson learned that drink driving is just not worth the risk.”

Images from the scene show the extensive damage caused by the crash, with the Hyundai precariously perched near the river and railings left mangled.

Cambridgeshire Constabulary is urging members of the public to report suspected drink or drug driving. A confidential hotline is available 24/7 on 0800 032 0845.

For more court and crime news, visit: www.cambs.police.uk/news