A PROFESSIONAL driver who was stopped by police on the M6 near Carlisle has been banned after he admitted falling asleep at the wheel.

Rafai Zdulski, 34, came to the attention of the police after the alarm was raised by fellow motorists who were concerned about the manner of his driving as he made his way north on the motorway, the city’s Rickergate court heard.

He pleaded guilty to dangerous driving.

Prosecutor Peter Kelly said police caught up with the defendant near to Junction 44 as he drove a Mercedes Sprinter van. When officers first began following the van, they noticed it remained in the middle lane for no obvious reason.

When the van was stopped, the defendant openly admitted that he had earlier fallen asleep at the wheel and that was why he had kept his van in the middle lane, lessening that chance that he would veer in to the motorway barrier.

“It became apparent that Mr Zdulski is a courier driver, and he was making his way to Aberdeen, so he still had a substantial amount of driving to do,” said Mr Kelly.

During his police interview, the defendant said he had slept for five hours the previous evening, having previously worked a night shift.

The defendant admitted feeling tired when he began his journey, at Junction 29. At Junction 31, however, he took a five-minute break and drank a coffee - but he admitted this did not leave him feeling “fully refreshed.”

Mr Kelly continued: “At Junction 40, he believes that he fell asleep and drifted out of his lane on the motorway; he was using the middle lane in anticipation of falling asleep again.

"He said if he started drifting again, he would not hit the barrier.”

Though he was taking medication, there was no suggestion that it would affect his ability to drive, he said. Mr Kelly added: “He accepted that his driving was not as it should have been.”

After hearing a probation service report on the defendant, of Dunstable Road, Luton, magistrates imposed the minimum one-year ban. Zdulski was also given a one-year community order with 80 hours of unpaid work.

He must pass an extended retest before he can drive independently again. The defendant must also pay £85 costs and a £114 victim surcharge. The defendant is a man of previous good character.