Drove at 'suicidal' speed with police in 110 mph hot pursuit

POLICE in pursuit of a Portglenone motorist had to drive at a speed of 110mph in their attempt to catch up with him, Ballymena Magistrate's Court has been told.

Clifford John Gordon (21), of Aughnahoy Road, was charged with dangerous driving, failing to stop for police and no insurance.

Last Thursday’s court sitting in Antrim heard that the offences were committed on July 2, 2010, when police observed Gordon driving a car at Portglenone at 8.40pm but when they approached him, he made off at high speed.

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A representative of the PPS said that the police car in pursuit had to travel at 110mph on country roads.

She said that when officers later attended Gordon’s home, he denied being the driver of the vehicle.

sold

He told them that he had sold the car to someone in the South but could not provide any details.

The court heard Gordon also denied being the driver of the car at interview.

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A solicitor for Gordon said his client did not have insurance for the vehicle which he had used to travel from his home to Coleraine.

District Judge Desmond Perry said: “110mph on narrow country roads is suicidal.

“This was madness on your part,” he told Gordon, adding: “Consider yourself fortunate you are not going to prison - that type of driving attracts a custodial sentence”.

Mr Perry banned Gordon for 12 months and fined him 250 for the offence of dangerous driving.

He also fined him 50 for failing to stop for police and 200 for no insurance.

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