Ford Focus driver hit 100mph at Tilney St Saints in police pursuit, court told

A driver who gave police the slip after a 100mph chase on the A47 has been banned from the roads.

Nicholas Lyons undertook and overtook other vehicles in a Ford Focus as he kept ahead of the police car.

The pursuit started in the Saddlebow area of Lynn before heading towards Wisbech on the A47.

Prosecutor Robyn Khan told magistrates in Lynn on Thursday that the pursuit touched 100mph on dual carriageway near Tilney All Saints and police lost sight of their quarry a couple of times.

Lyons was then spotted heading back towards Lynn and the car was found abandoned near Terrington St John, where he lived at the time.

The offences took place at about 7.20pm on August 21, 2019.

Last November the 32-year-old defendant, now of Seafield Road, Leverington, had been convicted in his absence of driving while disqualified, driving without due care and attention, failing to stop for a police officer and having no insurance. However, the driving while disqualified conviction was quashed on Thursday.

In mitigation, solicitor Ruth Johnson told the bench that losing his driving licence would have a big impact on a business which Lyons was starting shortly.

“He knows he will bear the consequences for his bad driving,” she added. “Opening a motor mechanics business without a driving licence is going to be something that is problematic to him.

“His motoring history really doesn’t do him any favours, he understands that.”

Lyons was disqualified from driving for 12 months and fined £346. There were no separate penalties for the other matters but his licence will be endorsed.

He was ordered to pay £105 costs and £34 victim surcharge.