Tuesday 5 November 2024
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Drug driver hit 90 mph on Nottingham’s tram lines in police pursuit

A drug driver hit speeds of up to 90mph on tram lines, went through red lights, and on the wrong side of the road while overtaking as he fled from police.

A member of Nottinghamshire Police’s armed policing team was heading along the A453 towards Clifton, in an unmarked vehicle, when he was overtaken by an Audi A6 driven by Laurence Honeyman-Smith.

The 27-year-old was travelling at around 60mph in a 40mph zone and continued to accelerate up to 70mph as he approached a roundabout junction.

The officer illuminated his blue lights and sirens and indicated for Honeyman-Smith to pull over but instead he accelerated through a 30mph limit built-up housing estate in an attempt to evade capture.

He drove over speed humps at around 70mph and squeezed through tight gaps between other vehicles, narrowly avoiding collisions.

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He also drove the wrong way around a roundabout, went straight through a red light at a crossroad junction, and swerved in and out of traffic at speed.

The pursuit, which began at 7.26pm on 22 June 2023, was brought to a safe conclusion after Honeyman-Smith came to a stop in a cul-de-sac, his vehicle was blocked in by the officer, and he was arrested.

A roadside drugs wipe also showed he was over the limit for cannabis which he had been smoking earlier.

Honeyman-Smith, of Grays, Thurrock, Essex, was subsequently charged and he pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and drug driving.

Analysis of blood samples showed he had 3.7 micrograms of cannabis in his system – the legal limit is two micrograms.

Honeyman-Smith was handed a 10-month prison sentence when he appeared at Nottingham Crown Court for sentencing on Tuesday (16 July 2024).

He was also banned from driving for four-and-a-half years.

A Nottinghamshire Police spokesperson said: “Honeyman-Smith showed absolutely no regard for anyone’s safety, including his own, by driving in such a dangerous manner.

“As the court heard, it was only due to sheer good fortune that no-one was injured, or even worse killed, as a result of his high-risk actions.

“Dangerous driving and drug driving will not be tolerated and, as a force, we continue to crack down on motorists who risk innocent lives as well as their own on our roads.”

•  £5 million more cash for pothole repairs across Nottinghamshire

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