Skyline GTR (?) going cheap

Pip1968 · 31-10-2010, 10:24 AM

Two drivers jailed for speeding at 140mph

Two motorists who drove their cars at speeds of up to 140mph along a busy dual carriageway have been jailed after a judge told them it was only "blind luck" that nobody had been killed

Police camera footage shows the pair swerving in and out of other vehicles, veering wildly as they switch lanes, keeping their speed at between 130mph to 140mph for three minutes.

They were eventually stopped after a motorcycle police officer, who had filmed them with his helmet camera, was able to pull alongside them and signal for them to stop.
Daniel Carter, 27, who was driving a £36,000 Nissan Skyline and friend Austen Constantinou, 28, in a Nissan Primera saloon, were pulled over on the A24, near Horsham, West Sussex.
The pair, from East Grinstead, were found guilty of dangerous driving following a trial earlier this year and were sentenced last week, at Lewes Crown Court.
Judge Simon Coltart told them their driving was the most appalling he had ever seen and that it was only blind luck nobody was killed.
He said he was concerned that Carter still seemed not to realise how close he had come to killing someone.
He said: "If you drive at 135mph and hit someone then that means death. That person is dead.
"He does not accept he has done anything wrong. He just does not accept it was dangerous driving.
"Of course he regrets his position now. We would all regret our position if we were facing a custodial sentence. But I do not think he understands why he was so dangerous.
"His driving was not a moment. It was more than three minutes. It was appalling driving which could have had the most horrific consequences."
He jailed Carter for six months and Constantinou for four.
Both men were bailed and will return to the same court on Wednesday to start their sentences.
The Judge added: "Mr Constantinou seems to accept the seriousness of this now.
"But initially neither of you accepted what you were doing was dangerous driving. This is a matter I fail to understand.
"It was not just speed. It was extremely high speed on both of your parts and also driving very close together.
"Thankfully this is not a case of causing death by dangerous driving."
Neither man had any previous convictions.
They were both banned from driving for a year and each ordered to pay £3,400 costs.
The court heard Carter is now trying to sell his high-performance vehicle for £22,000.
Sergeant Tony Crisp, from the Sussex Police, said: "It is very disappointing these two young men were willing to risk their lives and the lives of those around them and their careers, just to see how fast their vehicles would go on a public road.
"They would simply not have survived a crash at those speeds and nor would any other person in their path.
"We are committed to reducing the number of people that are killed and seriously injured on the roads of Sussex, and whilst we would prefer to do this by advising and educating drivers, those drivers who are intentionally willing to put themselves and others in danger can expect to be dealt with robustly."
The offence occurred at around midday on a Saturday in May 2009.

31-10-2010, 10:24 AM	#1
Pip1968 S5, Sport Off, DSC M-track Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Kent, England Posts: 940 Casino cash: $8383	Skyline GTR (?) going cheap Two drivers jailed for speeding at 140mph Two motorists who drove their cars at speeds of up to 140mph along a busy dual carriageway have been jailed after a judge told them it was only "blind luck" that nobody had been killed Police camera footage shows the pair swerving in and out of other vehicles, veering wildly as they switch lanes, keeping their speed at between 130mph to 140mph for three minutes. They were eventually stopped after a motorcycle police officer, who had filmed them with his helmet camera, was able to pull alongside them and signal for them to stop. Daniel Carter, 27, who was driving a £36,000 Nissan Skyline and friend Austen Constantinou, 28, in a Nissan Primera saloon, were pulled over on the A24, near Horsham, West Sussex. The pair, from East Grinstead, were found guilty of dangerous driving following a trial earlier this year and were sentenced last week, at Lewes Crown Court. Judge Simon Coltart told them their driving was the most appalling he had ever seen and that it was only blind luck nobody was killed. He said he was concerned that Carter still seemed not to realise how close he had come to killing someone. He said: "If you drive at 135mph and hit someone then that means death. That person is dead. "He does not accept he has done anything wrong. He just does not accept it was dangerous driving. "Of course he regrets his position now. We would all regret our position if we were facing a custodial sentence. But I do not think he understands why he was so dangerous. "His driving was not a moment. It was more than three minutes. It was appalling driving which could have had the most horrific consequences." He jailed Carter for six months and Constantinou for four. Both men were bailed and will return to the same court on Wednesday to start their sentences. The Judge added: "Mr Constantinou seems to accept the seriousness of this now. "But initially neither of you accepted what you were doing was dangerous driving. This is a matter I fail to understand. "It was not just speed. It was extremely high speed on both of your parts and also driving very close together. "Thankfully this is not a case of causing death by dangerous driving." Neither man had any previous convictions. They were both banned from driving for a year and each ordered to pay £3,400 costs. The court heard Carter is now trying to sell his high-performance vehicle for £22,000. Sergeant Tony Crisp, from the Sussex Police, said: "It is very disappointing these two young men were willing to risk their lives and the lives of those around them and their careers, just to see how fast their vehicles would go on a public road. "They would simply not have survived a crash at those speeds and nor would any other person in their path. "We are committed to reducing the number of people that are killed and seriously injured on the roads of Sussex, and whilst we would prefer to do this by advising and educating drivers, those drivers who are intentionally willing to put themselves and others in danger can expect to be dealt with robustly." The offence occurred at around midday on a Saturday in May 2009.