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Footballer on 120mph speed trial | Footballer on 120mph speed trial |
(29 minutes later) | |
A police officer has told a court she reached speeds of 120mph as she followed a car driven by Aberdeen footballer Lee Miller. | |
Mr Miller denies driving dangerously at up to 120mph in a 70mph zone on the A90 Aberdeen to Dundee road on 30 March last year. | |
It is also alleged the 25-year-old drove at up to 90mph in a 40mph zone. | |
The Dons and Scotland forward, of Perth, has gone on trial at Stonehaven Sheriff Court. | |
Grampian Pc Clare Doherty, 30, who was driving, told the court she and another officer tailed the black Ford Focus ST over a five-mile stretch of road. | |
She said they spotted the vehicle "travelling in excess of the speed limit" as they sat at a well-lit junction. | She said they spotted the vehicle "travelling in excess of the speed limit" as they sat at a well-lit junction. |
The marked police patrol car then accelerated to "keep up" as it travelled on the southbound carriageway. | The marked police patrol car then accelerated to "keep up" as it travelled on the southbound carriageway. |
She explained that although the car was marked it did not appear as if the driver of the car was aware of the police car behind it. | She explained that although the car was marked it did not appear as if the driver of the car was aware of the police car behind it. |
'Safety reasons' | |
PC Doherty then told the court how her accompanying officer told her she was driving at about 120mph as they pursued the car. | |
The officer then told how the car stayed in front of the police car after travelling two miles past the Fordoun junction. | The officer then told how the car stayed in front of the police car after travelling two miles past the Fordoun junction. |
She told the court: "I believe I said we may have to let the vehicle go for safety reasons. I wasn't willing to travel any faster than I was." | She told the court: "I believe I said we may have to let the vehicle go for safety reasons. I wasn't willing to travel any faster than I was." |
Constable Doherty then told the court how the car entered a contraflow system with a 40mph limit. | Constable Doherty then told the court how the car entered a contraflow system with a 40mph limit. |
The trial is taking place at Stonehaven Sheriff Court | |
She told the court: "I saw the car, which was still travelling at speed, went round the chicane very quickly, and seemed to be unstable." | She told the court: "I saw the car, which was still travelling at speed, went round the chicane very quickly, and seemed to be unstable." |
Pc Doherty then said the patrol car was travelling at about 90mph as it attempted to close the gap between the two cars. | Pc Doherty then said the patrol car was travelling at about 90mph as it attempted to close the gap between the two cars. |
The court was then told that she turned on the car's flashing lights when she knew there was a safe spot for the car ahead to pull over. | |
Her colleague then approached the car after it pulled over, and Mr Miller got out. | |
She told the court: "Throughout the whole incident we had been discussing the driving of the vehicle. We agreed the gentlemen was driving dangerously." | She told the court: "Throughout the whole incident we had been discussing the driving of the vehicle. We agreed the gentlemen was driving dangerously." |
Fiscal depute Cecilia Dyckhoff asked the officer what the weather conditions were like. | Fiscal depute Cecilia Dyckhoff asked the officer what the weather conditions were like. |
She said: "It was dark, the road was slightly damp and was drizzly by the end of the incident." | She said: "It was dark, the road was slightly damp and was drizzly by the end of the incident." |
The trial continues. | The trial continues. |