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118mph police driver receives ban

Gee was clocked driving at 118mph

The former head of a police force driving school has been banned from driving after admitting speeding at 118mph on the M9 motorway near Falkirk.

Paul Gee, 48, who recently retired from Durham Constabulary, had claimed he was carrying out a "risk assessment" for his force's driving school at the time.

Falkirk Sheriff Court heard he was in uniform and driving a marked car when caught by a mobile camera.

Gee was banned from driving for three months and fined £500.

The former inspector, from Heddon On The Wall, Northumberland, had originally pleaded not guilty to the speeding offence, committed on 3 November 2006.

But minutes before his trial was due to begin, Gee admitted speeding while on his way to pick up a fellow officer from a police nursing home.

I have sat here on many occasions saying to motorists that people who drive over 100 miles an hour cannot expect to keep their driving licences.

Sheriff Craig Caldwell

The court was told he had tried to avoid the camera in the marked 5-series BMW by changing lanes and braking.

Gee made a retrospective attempt to "make contact and claim exemption" from the speed laws, but this was rejected by Central Scotland Police.

The court heard that he had been driving from Durham to the Northern Police Convalescent and Treatment Centre in Auchterarder, Perthshire, to pick someone up, when it struck him he could assess the M9 for high speed driving.

Defence solicitor David Hunter said: "His last rank was inspector and part of his responsibility was for driver training.

"He took the view that he could drive at this speed so that he could consider new routes for driver training."

Sheriff Caldwell asked whether Gee had "followed a protocol" and informed the local force of his plan.

The view of Central Scotland Police seems to be that he was not driving for police training purposes

David Hunter
Defence solicitor

Mr Hunter replied: "This had not been done on this occasion.

"It was an opportunity that arose and he felt he should take it."

The lawyer added: "He tells me his force often uses the Scottish motorways for driver training as the English ones are too congested"

Mr Hunter said his client had 30 years experience and knew what he was doing.

"However, the view of Central Scotland Police seems to be that he was not driving for police training purposes," he added.

After rejecting a plea not to disqualify Gee, Sheriff Caldwell said: "I have sat here on many occasions saying to motorists that people who drive over 100 miles an hour cannot expect to keep their driving licences.

"Your speed is not the highest I have seen, but it is still very high."

"However, the view of Central Scotland Police seems to be that he was not driving for police training purposes," he added.