Bride’s dress dash driver is banned Dry cleaner was nabbed as he raced to deliver frock

A dry cleaner to the stars has been spared jail after he flouted a road ban to deliver a wedding dress hours before the ceremony.

Adil Zafar, 31, got behind the wheel of his branded van to rush the frock to a waiting bride.

His shop has been tasked with handling costumes for the new Fast and the Furious film.

Zafar admitted driving while disqualified during a hearing at Paisley Sheriff Court.

Prosecutor Pamela Flynn previously told how he was nabbed after police found him when he ran out of petrol near Glasgow Airport.

The prosecutor explained: “There was a broken down black Mercedes Vito in the inside lane with its hazard warning lights illuminated.

“Police noted the car was registered to a dry cleaners in Bridge of Weir.

“He apologised for the car in the roadway and said he had driven from Bridge of Weir and ran out of fuel.

“He said he had recently started a dry cleaning business and was doing well and was working all day every day to try and keep up with the demand.

“He also said he was trying to deliver a wedding dress to a brideto-be.”

Zafar had set off on a six-mile drive for the service at Ingliston Country Club in Bishopton.

He was spotted walking back to the van clutching a Jerry can filled with diesel on St Andrew’s Parkway, Paisley, at around 6.30pm on June 17.

Police quizzed him over why he was broken down and checks revealed he was banned from driving.

The Harrods Dry Cleaners boss had previously been disqualified for a slew of motoring offences.

Zafar was banned from the road for dangerous driving earlier this year.

He was rapped again a week after he was stopped at the airport after he was stopped in his work van again.

Defence lawyer Charlie McCusker admitted his client knew the risks but was dedicated to his customers.

He said: “He is ashamed of his actions.

“This is a man who started up a business a couple of years ago and has been fairly successful.

“He has a contract with the BBC for things like River City and also films – like The Avengers when they were here.

“It just so happens the Fast and the Furious have taken over Glasgow just now and he also is doing the work for them as well.”

He has been hailed for his work and bagged the Business Person of the Year at the Renfrewshire Chamber of Commerce Awards earlier this year.

His firm was also crowned and Small Business of the Year at the Scottish Asian Business Awards in 2017.

Harrods Dry Cleaners has been hired to deal with costumes and clothing for Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson and Benedict Cumberbatch.

Sheriff Coln Pettigrew fined him £1,800.

He said: “I understand how the offence occurred.

“You clearly put more into your business than to obeying the law.

“I consider it to be a blatant breach of a disqualification.”

Zafar, of Glasgow, was handed a further 17-month driving ban.