Latest News
The Shropshire policeman who was caught travelling at 159mph in an unmarked Police Vectra on the M54 motorway has had his conviction for dangerous driving overturned.
PC Mark Milton was originally acquitted of dangerous driving, but in August 2006 this was overturned and he was found guilty. District Judge Peter Wallis ruled that Milton’s driving skills were “irrelevant”. However, Milton was given an absolute discharge, as the judge ruled he had suffered enough.
That ruling has now been overturned by two High Court judges, Lady Justice Smith and Mr Justice Gross, who said that the district judge had “misdirected himself”. They have asked for Judge Wallis to look at the case again.
Though this does not necessarily mean that Milton will be acquitted, that is the implication. The High Court judges have said the court must decide again whether “PC Milton’s unusual driving skills were such as to make a crucial difference to the dangerousness of his driving.”
We can’t see how it can change a thing. If you hit someone when you’re travelling at 91mph in a 30mph zone, as Milton was, it makes no difference whether you’re a skilled driver or not.
If Milton gets cleared, will this pave the way for anyone with a racing licence to speed? You can bet not: professional rally drivers fined for speeding between stages on the Wales Rally GB didn't get let off because of their skills. One law for us...
Your Say