Judge describes 123mph on motorway as ridiculous

Christopher Baird, Mahon Road, Portadown, was banned from driving for 18 months last Friday at Craigavon Magistrates Court.

He was also fined £200 and ordered to pay a £15 offender’s levy for dangerous driving on July 25 last year.

For an excess speed offence he was fined £120 and disqualified for 18 months concurrently.

The court heard that shortly before 1am a police patrol on the M1 saw two vehicles travelling at a high speed.

The first vehicle was driven by the defendant.

Police sat in behind them and a speed of 123mph was recorded.

Baird accepted that he had been driving in excess of 100mph but thought he only went as fast as 115mph.

The driver of the other car had been dealt with at a previous court and banned for 18 months.

A solicitor representing Baird said he regretted this ‘foolish piece of driving’.

He explained the defendant and the other driver had been at a friend’s house in Moira.

He added that they were making their way home when this occurred ‘spontaneously’ and both were significantly over the speed limit.

Baird had no previous convictions and no points on his licence.

District Judge, Mr Mervyn Bates, said the defendant’s behaviour was completely at odds with his character and references handed in to court spoke well of him.

But, he added, this speed was ‘ridiculous’ and racing with another person was dangerous.