UK, Ireland /
31 year old Polish man causes accident under influence of alcohol and kills 8 [198]
"Polish national Masierak, of Evesham, Worcestershire, had been stationary in the slow line for more than 12 minutes, despite miles of hard shoulder being available to him.
At trial, it emerged he did not have a professional licence after it was revoked by the authorities for multiple driving offences including speeding in his HGV, driving his lorry in the fast lane, running a red light and ignoring driving hours limits.
The court heard that Masierak had been driving erratically for more than two hours before the accident, including driving the wrong way around a major roundabout, driving the wrong way down a motorway slip way and then turning on the slip way to retrace his path.
Multiple witnesses reported beeping or flashing their lights at Masierak while he was stationary on the M1, which he ignored, indicating he was either asleep or unconscious at the time.
Cider cans were found in the cab of his lorry, suggesting that he had been drinking while at the wheel.
Judge Francis Sheridan said to Maseriak: "What you have tried to do is blame everyone and everybody except yourself.
"In short, you are a persistent, unmitigated, if not very accomplished, liar."
He said he had shown "no remorse" and that there was "no mitigation" in his case."Masierak had described himself to the jury as a "careful driver" and claimed he had attempted to pull over onto the hard shoulder as he felt unwell, but passed out and could not remember anything.
The court heard that he had not told his employers AIM of any of his previous driving convictions.
He denied he was drunk, claiming the cider cans had been left by a previous driver even though they had his finger prints on them.
