Jay Posted 25 August 2006 Posted 25 August 2006 Discharge for 159mph speeding Pc Pc Mark Milton said he was familiarising himself with the car A policeman who drove at 159mph on a motorway has been found guilty of dangerous driving and given an absolute discharge. Cameras on board Pc Mark Milton's unmarked car clocked him driving at high speeds on the M54 in Shropshire. He was originally cleared of the same charge but the High Court overturned his acquittal and ordered a retrial. But despite his "eye watering" speeds the judge at Ludlow Magistrates' Court gave Pc Milton an absolute discharge. District Judge Peter Wallis said the 38-year-old from Telford, Shropshire, had "suffered enough" with two-and-a-half years of court proceedings. Ludlow magistrates were shown the footage of the West Mercia police officer speeding on the motorway at 0300 BST in a 3.2l Vauxhall Vectra on 5 December 2003. Prosecutors said Pc Milton had also driven at 131mph on a nearby A-road. Pat Sullivan, prosecuting, admitted there had been some dispute over the speeds the camera had recorded but said it was accepted they were "broadly" accurate. During the trial, Insp David McWilliam, based at Telford police station with Pc Milton, said the constable had told him he was experimenting with the Vauxhall Vectra as he had not driven it before. Pc Milton, an advanced driver, has always maintained he was familiarising himself with the car and the reason for his high-speed driving was to practise the skills he had learnt. In a statement read out in court, he said: "I was advised to familiarise myself with vehicles, so when there was a need to respond at speed you were aware of its performance http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/shropshire/5284962.stm Nothing short of disgraceful if he wasn't a copper he would get a prison sentance for that!!!! he also keeps his job!!! The Judge should be ashamed of his actions if you ask me!!
Shum Posted 25 August 2006 Posted 25 August 2006 Nothing short of disgraceful if he wasn't a copper he would get a prison sentance for that!!!! he also keeps his job!!! The Judge should be ashamed of his actions if you ask me!! The Great British system strikes again!
Collymore Posted 25 August 2006 Posted 25 August 2006 Am I the only one who thinks this guy is kind of right? He has been trained to drive at high speeds and it would have been best for him to practice first instead of having to nail to an emergency not knowing how the car handles. Saying that, no Vectra should be allowed to travel at that speed. Can't imagine it having the body shell for it.
Jay Posted 25 August 2006 Author Posted 25 August 2006 Am I the only one who thinks this guy is kind of right? He has been trained to drive at high speeds and it would have been best for him to practice first instead of having to nail to an emergency not knowing how the car handles. Saying that, no Vectra should be allowed to travel at that speed. Can't imagine it having the body shell for it. you can look at that the other way round though in respect that he took an unfamiliar car that he hadn't driven and pushed it to it's limits without knowing it's braking limits or how it handles with total disregard for public safety I understand he was also caught at 60mph in a 30mph zone and 131mph on an A road
davieG Posted 25 August 2006 Posted 25 August 2006 Am I the only one who thinks this guy is kind of right? He has been trained to drive at high speeds and it would have been best for him to practice first instead of having to nail to an emergency not knowing how the car handles. Saying that, no Vectra should be allowed to travel at that speed. Can't imagine it having the body shell for it. I'm with Colly, although it would depend on the road conditions, timing and traffice levels and I do think they should provide marked vehicles for this.
Strokes Posted 25 August 2006 Posted 25 August 2006 I'm with Colly, although it would depend on the road conditions, timing and traffice levels and I do think they should provide marked vehicles for this. I do agree with this ruling but I think people would show more sympathy for him, if there was a little bit more common sense shown toward the publics traffic offences.
Guest Posted 25 August 2006 Posted 25 August 2006 How do you expect ordinary citizens to uphold the law, when those in supposed authority don't?
Head Honcho Posted 25 August 2006 Posted 25 August 2006 Am I the only one who thinks this guy is kind of right? He has been trained to drive at high speeds and it would have been best for him to practice first instead of having to nail to an emergency not knowing how the car handles. Saying that, no Vectra should be allowed to travel at that speed. Can't imagine it having the body shell for it. If he was testing the vehicle's performance then surely he should have reported this to his colleagues beforehand? All the emergency service's put procedures in place before any training exercise is commenced. I agree he should be allowed to test the vehicle but it must be under certain conditions and he's obviously not followed these condition and been charged. It just makes a mockery of the whole system because in the end there are no winners.
Jay Posted 25 August 2006 Author Posted 25 August 2006 don't forget though he was actually found GUILTY of wreckless driving so it's not really a matter or right or wrong it's the fact that he basically got away with it with no further punishment when a normal member of the public if found guilty of wreckless driving at those speeds would have received a severe punishment
Head Honcho Posted 25 August 2006 Posted 25 August 2006 don't forget though he was actually found GUILTY of wreckless driving so it's not really a matter or right or wrong it's the fact that he basically got away with it with no further punishment when a normal member of the public if found guilty of wreckless driving at those speeds would have received a severe punishment That's a good point, which begs the question. Why wasn't he dismissed from the force? Just heard he's appealing now! The judge gave him an absolute discharge because it's been going on for 2 1/2 years and now he's prolonging it even more by appealing, you couldn't make it up.
Thracian Posted 25 August 2006 Posted 25 August 2006 Nothing short of disgraceful if he wasn't a copper he would get a prison sentance for that!!!! he also keeps his job!!! The Judge should be ashamed of his actions if you ask me!! Freemasonry!
cisono Posted 25 August 2006 Posted 25 August 2006 Nothing short of disgraceful if he wasn't a copper he would get a prison sentance for that!!!! he also keeps his job!!! The Judge should be ashamed of his actions if you ask me!! This would be perfectly legal on any German Autobahn
Gamesmaster Posted 26 August 2006 Posted 26 August 2006 Nothing short of disgraceful if he wasn't a copper he would get a prison sentance for that!!!! he also keeps his job!!! The Judge should be ashamed of his actions if you ask me!! If your the new labour totalitarian state controlled government, you need all the help you can get. "he", is now one of them helpers. Be afraid, be very afraid
Nebdingo Posted 26 August 2006 Posted 26 August 2006 Theres track days and training courses he could practice "getting used" to the car! NOT public roads!! He should be banned!
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