AN optometry student has been disqualified for a year after what was described by a judge as "an 11-mile, 100mph police car chase". Sarah McNeice (21) of Cromore Road, Coleraine, Co Derry claimed she was running late to meet her friend.
At Dungannon Magistrates Court she pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, excess speed and failing to stop for police.
The court heard police were carrying out a mobile patrol at the A4 Dungannon at 2.20pm on October 11 last year, when they observed McNeice overtake a vehicle and continue to drive over the speed limit.
Officers manoeuvred behind her car and maintained a steady speed of 90mph, and the gap between the cars did not reduce.
McNeice then increased to 100mph, before undertaking a van and continuing at high speed.
Police had to increase to 110mph to catch up. Throughout this time the police car had blue lights flashing, but McNeice did not appear to notice.
The speed was maintained at 100mph but it was on approaching the Ballygawley Roundabout - some 11 miles after the chase began - that McNeice slowed down and pulled in. A defence barrister spent some time pointing out his client's previous good character and emphasised she was a student of optometry and hoped to gain part-time work as an optician.
After some time, District Judge John Meehan enquired, "Is anything going to be said as to why the defendant was on an 11-mile car chase with police at 100mph?"
The defence replied, "My client states she was late for meeting a friend in Enniskillen."
In respect of the delay in pulling over the defence claimed his client was "waiting for a safe place to stop".
McNiece was fined a total of £550 and disqualified from driving for 12 months.