Muslim Caught Drink-Driving By Saudi Embassy Cops

Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia

A boozy driver, warned by police guarding the Saudi Arabian embassy not to get behind the wheel of his car, was caught sneaking back to the vehicle and driving away a couple of hours later.

Investment banker Mohammed Jaami, 30, of Fairfield Road, Ilford was still over the drink-drive limit when pulled over by officers, who also allegedly found a small amount of cocaine.

He pleaded guilty at Hammersmith Magistrates' Court to driving his Audi with excess alcohol in his breath in Hertford Street, Mayfair on April 5 and was fined £1,200, with £85 costs, ordered to pay a £120 victim surcharge and disqualified from driving for fourteen months.

He gave no indication to a charge of possessing cocaine on the same occasion and a trial date was set for next month.

The court heard police outside the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia (pictured) in Charles Street, Mayfair detected the smell of alcohol on Jaami's breath as he tried to get into his vehicle and warned him not to drive.

There was a shift handover of officers and the defendant was seen getting into the car two to three hours later and was pulled over a few streets away and taken to Paddington Green Police Station.

Jaami was represented by leading human rights lawyer Imran Khan, who told the court: “He was aware he had been drinking and made an attempt to sober up over two to three hours.

“He's muslim, but over the last year he lost his grandmother in awful circumstances and has turned to drink to alieviate those stresses.

“His father lost his business and he is now the family's sole breadwinner.

“He drove only for a short period of time.”