A driver topped 107mph as she sped at more than TWICE the legal limit on the A66.
Samina Aksar, 27, was weaving through traffic and undertaking slower moving vehicles while chased by a police car towards Middlesbrough.
The police officer broke the 100mph barrier twice during the pursuit, which took place at around 5.35pm on May 25 last year, but still could not make up ground on the silver Volkswagen Passat Aksar was driving.
Teesside Crown Court heard today that Ms Aksar had recently heard of the sudden death of her father, and was speeding home as she had been unable to connect her mother on the phone.
Prosecuting, Sue Jacobs said that a marked police car had been driving along the A66 eastbound close to Teesside Park when the Passat and a Volkswagen Golf sped past.
Road conditions were wet, with some standing water, and it was raining lightly.
The officer began to follow the car and reached 98mph near to the Tees Flyover, but was still 150 yards behind and had to slow down because of other road users.
The Passat overtook numerous vehicles, before abruptly steering and undertaking the Golf on a slip road and then cutting in front of a Renault Espace.
Ms Jacobs said: “The police car was travelling at 107mph at one point and was barely making ground.
“The car came to a stop near to the cinema in Middlesbrough town centre. When Ms Aksar got out of the car, a woman who witnessed her driving said ‘I hope you throw the book at her’.
“Ms Aksar said to the police on scene ‘It is not my car. My car is not as fast as that. I didn’t realise.’
“She then continued ‘Can you not let me off? My mam will go mad and I will lose my job’.”
The court also heard that Aksar had received points on her driving licence for speeding in 2012, and for using a mobile phone whilst driving in 2010.
Mitigating, Uzma Khan said that the only reason the Crown Prosecution Service brought the case to Crown Court was because they thought she may have been racing, which was disproved.
Ms Khan said: “She is 27-years-old and has been and will continue to be a decent law abiding citizen. She is remorseful for her behaviour.
“Coming before the court will have a profound effect on her. Because of her employers’ relocation to Newcastle she will inevitably lose her job if she is disqualified.”
Handing Ms Aktar, of Marton Road, Middlesbrough, a three month sentence suspended for 12 months, Recorder Felicity Davies said: “I have read your pre-sentence report, I can see you had received no response from your mother and I understand you wanted to get home to satisfy yourself she was all right.
“But the driving was so serious that only a custodial sentence is appropriate.”
Aksar will also be disqualified from driving for 12 months.
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