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Driver hits 135mph on Sussex road

7:10pm Friday 30th July 2010 in


A driver raced along the A27 at 135mph then claimed the police made him speed up. Businessman Andrew Vass complained that magistrates had been too harsh imposing a two year driving ban and appealed at Hove Crown Court yesterday.

His sentence was slashed to just an eight month ban.

Vass said he had only driven so fast in the first place because the unmarked police motorcyclist chasing him drove him to speed up.

Paul Jarvis defending Vass said his client had sped up because of the police motorbike following him on the Hove stretch of the road in April.

Mr Jarvis told the court: “The motorcycle was quite close, as unmarked police bikes tend to be.

“He was nervous about the motorcycle so close to him so he put his foot down to try and distance himself."

Vass, of Gordon Road, Thatcham, near Newbury, had his original two year driving ban cut to just eight months yesterday.

He was driven away from court and back to Berkshire in his partner’s car.

Comments(14)

ICantThinkOfAName says...
7:23pm Fri 30 Jul 10

He could also have slowed down.

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mtmoocher says...
7:41pm Fri 30 Jul 10

If he is so nervous about a motorcyclist, it's a wonder he didn't faint in Court! Or maybe he is just so arrogant that he needs a Mason to cut through the chiseled exterior?
Or is it fast-track justice at work?

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CharlieOscar says...
8:03pm Fri 30 Jul 10

THEY DRIVE TOO FAST AND TOO CLOSE AND IM FED UP OF CLEARING THE PRATS UP...AND THEIR THE POLICE WANTING TO TURN IT INTO A CHASE (OOPS SORRY,SAFE FOLLOW)

SUSSEX POLICE WHO CHANGE THEIR ABREVIATIONS EVERY OTHER MONTH.

ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION UNIT

TO

ROAD POLICE ACCIDENT UNIT

TO

ROAD CRASH INVESTIGATION UNIT

TO

FORSENSIC COLLISION INVESTIGATION UNIT

HOW SAD

THERE MUST BE A OFFICE IN LEWES THAT JUST ALONE DEALS WITH CHANGING ABREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS.

CHARLIE OSCAR OVER

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munglebean says...
8:14pm Fri 30 Jul 10

Or he could have pulled over to the left hand lane and let him past like the rest of us!
He must be too arrogant and didn't want to get overtaken!

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UglyAmerican says...
8:21pm Fri 30 Jul 10

I have a wonderful tool that I use whenever I feel someone is following too closely.
.
My brakes.
.
If you're persistent, then I switch to rapid downshifting.

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davyboy says...
8:43pm Fri 30 Jul 10

this bloke andrew vass must be a complete prat, and should have had his ban doubled. yet the appeal judge believed he was 'made to speed up' by the motorcyclist. excuse me!!!!!! don't you have brakes in your car? what an excuse!!!!!must try that myself, if i am ever caught speeding. the first magistrate had the right idea, and 2 year ban for twice the national speed limit seems fair.

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HF 05 says...
10:52pm Fri 30 Jul 10

The term 'follow' has been discontinued and it's now referred to as a pursuit.

Road traffic accident became road traffic collision, then road traffic incident.

It'll be 'road vehicle impact' next

Wendy, swing it around....

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TheInsider says...
11:10pm Fri 30 Jul 10

Is the V in his surname a silent V.

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Asbo says...
8:02am Sat 31 Jul 10

A prison sentence is far more appropiate for any idiot driving at that speed on a public road.The same goes for drink drivers. No excuses, just don't do it!

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Le Chiffre says...
11:39am Sat 31 Jul 10

Reduced to 8 months from 2 years. It beggars belief. A 2 year ban was the correct punishment.
I can only conclude that they must both belong to some sort of club with funny handshakes and aprons. There's no other explanation.

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peebee9 says...
12:16pm Sat 31 Jul 10

Perhaps he thought the motorcyclist was a 'hitman', trying to draw alongside and shoot him. Been watching too many 007 films maybe.

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ArthurD says...
4:59pm Sat 31 Jul 10

"Forensic Collision Investigation", means we close the road for hours (even after an accident not involving any other vehicles) so our jobsworths can pretend they have an important task to complete, when in reality it makes absolutely no difference to anyone or anything. But hey we have tripled the police council tax precept so we have to look busy even you have to suffer delays and dangerous alternative routes.

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g1mp says...
8:42am Sun 1 Aug 10

Arthur you arrogant ****.

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tombraider59 says...
11:02am Sun 1 Aug 10

ArthurD wrote:
"Forensic Collision Investigation", means we close the road for hours (even after an accident not involving any other vehicles) so our jobsworths can pretend they have an important task to complete, when in reality it makes absolutely no difference to anyone or anything. But hey we have tripled the police council tax precept so we have to look busy even you have to suffer delays and dangerous alternative routes.
Yep, that's about the size of it - well said ArthurD.

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