Court shock at driver who did 132mph in an Astra van
A GARAGE worker left magistrates astonished when they were told he had been clocked by police driving at 132mph in his Vauxhall Astra van.
Daniel Pearson, 29, had his foot to the floor in the 1.9- litre diesel when officers pulled him over and charged him with exceeding the 70mph motorway limit by a staggering 62mph.
Chairman of the bench Shane Bobby exclaimed: “Well, who would have thought an Astra van could do 132mph? Not me, that’s a fact. Sadly, you have proved that now.”
Police solicitor John Thurkettle told Hull magistrates court that Pearson was stopped at lunchtime on February 10 on the M180 near Goole.
The father- of- three already had six points on his licence and a ban would mean he had to sell the van.
Defence solicitor Roy Foreman said: “It may be wrong of me to make light of this but the advert may well indicate that this vehicle is capable of some considerable speed. He has the documents to prove it. It may be a considerable selling point.”
Mr Foreman added that if he was banned, Pearson would lose his job which involved taking vehicles for test drives and MoTs. Pearson had recently split from his partner of eight years and if he were reduced to living on benefits it would have a knock- on effect on the family, the court heard.
Mr Foreman said: “This act of foolishness will live with him for many years. Once he gets his licence back his insurance premiums will rocket.”
Pearson, of Grimsby, pleaded guilty to speeding and was fined £ 300 and banned from driving for eight weeks.
Speaking outside court, he said: “My van was not modified. It is a 1.9TDi. I regret doing what I did but I am going to have to take the punishment like a man.”