Co Down man was caught driving at speeds up to 131mph on the M1 between Moira and Portadown with the PSNI in pursuit

The 22-year-old, who attended Craigavon Magistrates Court on Wednesday with his mother, claimed he was driving at speed to save diesel.

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Shay Connelly, from Leaside Gardens, Downpatrick pleaded guilty to two counts of having the incorrect form of registration mark and a charge of speeding.

Police were on patrol in an unmarked vehicle on the M1 between Moira and Lurgan on March 14 this year when their car was overtaken by a Volkswagen car. Police believed it was travelling well in excess of the 70mph limit.

A prosecutor revealed the speed of the police vehicle was increased to between 90-95mph keeping a "constant distance” with the Volkswagen. The police vehicle was fitted with Clear Tone recording video.

As the vehicle passed Junction 10 at Lurgan the speed increased to approximately 100 mph. Travelling westbound, as the vehicle approached Portadown the speed increased “significantly” to “well over” 100mph.

"The maximum noted speed on the speedometer of the police vehicle was 131mph,” said the Prosecutor, adding the vehicle was stopped using lights and sirens.

She said the maximum speed on the Clear Tone footage was 126mph.

The Prosecutor added the registration mark shown on the VW Passat was below the legal limit. Both number plates were found to be tinted.

The characters height was measured at 38 millimetres with the legal limit being 79 millimetres. The spacing between the characters was 4 millimetres with the legal limit being 11 millimetres.

Connelly’s solicitor Mr Chris Logue said there was "no excuse” for that speed. "He has an excuse but there are serious holes in it,” said the solicitor.

He explained that Connelly was on his way home and was running out of diesel. “He thought the faster you went the less chance there was of running out of diesel,” said the solicitor.

Mr Logue admitted he checked this out and discovered that aerodynamic drag increases with speed. “If anyone is interested 50-60 is the best speed to do conserve diesel.”

“He’s made a mistake. He has no criminal record whatsoever. He’s a very polite young man who is here with his mother. He’s taking it very seriously,” said the solicitor.

District Judge Michael Ranaghan told Connelly: “Neither you or I are trained to drive at that speed. If something happens you do not have any time to react. You can cause serious injury or death to yourself or other road users.”

"That suggestion to drive faster to save diesel is nonsense. I actually don’t believe that,” he said.

He banned Connelly from driving for six weeks on the speeding charge and fined him £250.

"These registration marks – I don’t know why people fiddle about with them,” said the District Judge. He fined Connelly £100 for each registration plate plus £15 Offender Levy – leaving a total in fines of £465.

Connelly’s solicitor confirmed to the District Judge that his client is currently unemployed. He gave the defendant 20 weeks to pay the fines.