AN ELDERLY man has been fined almost £1,200 for driving the wrong way along the M40 and causing a crash.

Umar Ghouze, 81, has also been banned from driving for two years after pleading guilty to one count of dangerous driving.

He collided with another car on August 28, when he drove the wrong way down the slip road of junction 8A, near Wheatley.

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Ghouze, of Park Lane in Castle Donnington, was convicted at Oxford Magistrates’ Court on Friday.

He was disqualified from driving for two years and must pass an extended driving test thereafter, was made to pay a fine of £1,000, costs of £85 and a £100 victim surcharge.

Investigating officer, PC Alistair Bennett, said: "This was a serious incident in which thankfully there were no injuries.

"I would like to thank Highways England for their assistance following the collision.

"Thames Valley Police does not tolerate dangerous driving, and will always act to prevent injury to other road users."

ALSO READ: Inquest for M40 wrong-way horror crash 

Ghouze is not the first to take the wrong turn at that particular set of slip roads.

In February, Oxfordshire County Council said it would put temporary signs in place at junction 8A, after a car was spotted driving the wrong way. 

Witnesses said they had to swerve out of the way as the driver travelled towards oncoming traffic in the fast lane.

Last October three people tragically died on the M40 near Tetsworth, between junctions 6 and 7, after a driver towing a caravan joined the motorway in the wrong direction.