Woman who sped past police at 100mph banned from road for 12 months

Perth Sheriff Court: Ellen MacInnes was banned from driving.

A driver who sped past police at more than 100mph in a downpour has been disqualified from driving for 12 months.

Ellen MacInnes hit speeds of up to 107mph as she was monitored by the police along a notorious trunk road which was covered in standing water.

A warrant had been issued for the arrest of MacInnes earlier this month and on Wednesday she was sentenced at Perth Sheriff Court.

The court was told that MacInnes had been "encouraged" to drive at high speed by her passenger.

Fiscal depute Stuart Richardson said: "Shortly after 1pm on a Saturday afternoon two police officers were parked up on the A9 to monitor the speed of vehicles travelling southwards. As they sat and watched, a car went past travelling at excessive speed. It was a Vauxhall Corsa. Officers came out and began to proceed after the vehicle and the highest speed they calculated was 107 mph. The significant thing was that it was raining heavily and the road was wet with areas of standing water and that is why it was dangerous driving. Her car was eventually stopped."

Solicitor David Holmes, defending, said: "She has no previous experience of court and has no cases outstanding. The court was told previously she had been expecting a child and there had been complications. Her daughter was born on June 10. She didn't attend court and a warrant was issued for her arrest. She read in the newspaper that a warrant was taken and contacted the police. It would seem that her driving on this occasion was very much an isolated incident. She was driving another person to a certain connection and was running late. She was encouraged to drive far faster than she should have. It was always her intention to accept responsibility. She is presently in receipt of benefits."

Sheriff Michael Fletcher banned MacInnes from the road for a year and ordered her to resit her driving test. In addition, he fined her £600.MacInnes' ban has been running since April when she first pled guilty in a letter to court and an interim disqualification was imposed.

MacInnes, of Inverness, admitted driving dangerously on the A9 Inverness to Perth road while it was raining, the road surface was wet, and she was speeding at 107 mph on September 17.

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