A driver who undertook traffic while driving along the hard shoulder on the M11 before pulling into the carriageway and hitting another car has been jailed.

Nizaur Rahman, 35, of Eversleigh Road, East Ham, admitted to dangerous driving and at Chelmsford Crown Court on Monday, October 21.

At the same court on Thursday, December 5, he was given a six month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, and disqualified from driving for a year and a half.

He must also do 180 hours of unpaid work.

Rahman’s silver BMW convertible 320i was seen driving at speed towards between junctions seven and eight towards Stansted at around 2.14pm on Sunday, May 19.

As he approached a red Seat which had broken down on the hard shoulder he moved back into the carriageway and hit a black Mini One.

The impact caused the vehicle to spin several times before coming to rest in lane one of the carriageway.

The Mini had sustained extensive damage to its rear.

When officers arrived at the scene at arrested Rahman, he told them he had only been driving on the hard shoulder to turn his Bluetooth off.

He added that if he had not moved into the carriageway he would have had a head-on collision with the Seat.

Dash cam footage captured by a witness showed his car driving on the hard shoulder and undertaking other vehicles on the carriageway.

He then swerved back onto the carriageway to avoid another vehicle on hard shoulder before colliding with the Mini.

Investigating officer PC Ivor Stephenson, from Chigwell Roads Policing Unit, said: “Nizaur Rahman’s actions were completely reckless.

“He had claimed he was only on the hard shoulder to turn off his Bluetooth. The safest way to have done this was to pull over and do this while stationary.

“This case highlights how dangerous it can be to have distractions in your car while you’re driving.

“The collision with the Mini took place at speed and caused a significant amount of damage. It is extremely fortunate no-one was seriously injured or even killed.

“Rahman has now been banned from the road and I hope he uses this to reflect on his actions.”