Convicted Driver
Officer must face second trial
Thu, 02 Feb 2006
A police officer who was cleared of all charges after being caught speeding at 159mph has been ordered to return to court for a second trial, it has been reported.
PC Mark Milton from Telford in Shropshire was acquitted of speeding charges last May after a district judge accepted his claim that he was testing a new high-performance police vehicle.
Despite Mr Milton being caught breaking three separate speed limits in December 2003, district judge Bruce Morgan dismissed the charges against the PC, describing him as the "creme de la creme" of police drivers.
However, Lady Justice Hallen yesterday allowed an appeal against the verdict from the Director of Public Prosecutions to carry forward, saying that the officer's driving ability was "irrelevant" to the case.
She also expressed her concern that Mr Milton had reached "grossly excessive, eye-watering speeds" without any warning lights to alert other motorists.
"I consider it a failure not to have taken account of the effect upon other road users of somebody coming at this speed into their path," said Justice Hallen.
Mr Milton must now face the possibility of receiving penalty charges for his actions, as well as the option of taking on a convicted driver insurance policy in order to stay on the road.
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