Motorist may have car seized for wearing Bin Laden mask

A window cleaner was caught wearing an Osama Bin Laden mask while behind the wheel of his car. Stephen Taylor, of Darnley, will have his blue Nissan Micra seized by police if he is caught wearing a mask of the Islamic militant again. Officers issued him with a warning notice for driving in an anti-social manner.

The caution stated it was issued for careless driving and/or for driving in a manner which could alarm, distress or annoyance to members of the public. Mr Taylor, 54, said he only put the mask on to diffuse an argument between youngsters he saw at the side of the road. He said: “I was totally shocked and could not believe it.



“I think the police have gone over the top and people who may dress up this Christmas need to be warned.” Mr Taylor said he stopped at traffic lights on Horbury Road on November 6 and put the mask on to make a group of rowing teenagers laugh. He then drove off while wearing the mask before he removed it. But police spotted him and dished out the warning at his home on Sunday.

If he commits another motoring offence, including wearing the mask while driving, within a year, police can seize his car. A police spokesman could not confirm whether the warning was issued because his view may have been restricted or because of the nature of the mask.