A CARELESS driver who flipped his car onto its roof during a 'terrifying' motorway crash which caused serious injuries to a baby has escaped a driving ban.

Waseem Butt was driving in torrential rain southbound on the M5 between junction 6 (Worcester) and 7 (Worcester South) when he lost control of his Mercedes A class as it hit a patch of water.

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The 29-year-old admitted driving without due care and attention when he appeared before magistrates in Worcester on Wednesday following the crash on April 10 last year.

When asked by magistrates how fast he had been driving, the defendant said 'around 70mph'.

Andy Saunders, prosecuting, said: "The weather conditions were very poor. There was torrential rain with a large amount of surface water on the carriageway.

"The defendant has hit a patch of water, lost control which caused his car to leave the carriageway, flip over and come to a rest on its roof."

Worcester News: GUILTY: Waseem Butt. Photo: James Connell

A one-year-old child was in the car at the time, sustaining serious injuries including multiple fractures of the skull and brain contusions. A pregnant female passenger suffered a broken wrist.

In police interview Butt of Barcicroft Road, Stockport, 'stated he underestimated the poor weather conditions'.

"He was very apologetic and genuinely remorseful at the result of his actions" said the prosecutor.

Satveer Pnaiser, defending, said: "This was a terrifying and traumatic incident for the defendant.

"This lack of judgement and lack of experience in these challenging driving conditions has ultimately led to what the defendant says is the worst day of his life and the worst year of his life as well."

She said the child is still having to undergo surgery. However, she argued that Butt should not be disqualified from driving because he needed to travel for work and there were also family issues including seeing his children and his mother who lives alone in Manchester and is suffering from schizophrenia.

"He's not an irresponsible individual" said his advocate.

"He's not the sort of defendant where you would usually impose a disqualification in a punitive sense.

"He has already been taught a lesson through the circumstances of this accident. He's very sorry for his actions and willing to pay any fine at the earliest possible opportunity."

The court heard that before the accident the defendant had had two new front tyres fitted but that the mechanic had not mentioned one of the rear tyres being 'below the legal requirement'.

Magistrates, who told Butt he could 'consider himself quite fortunate', imposed nine penalty points to be added to his licence, fined him £1,118 and ordered him to pay costs of £110 and a victim surcharge of £182.

Asked if he could pay this amount within 14 days, Butt replied: "Yes sir."

The chairman of the bench told him: "With nine points you will have to drive very carefully and are carrying this burden for three years."

A fines collection order was also made which gives magistrates extra power to recover the money owed.