PC's 135mph son escapes driving ban after a word from his father

A young driver caught speeding at 135mph escaped disqualification after his father, a police worker, spoke out in his defence.

Property developer Adam Stammers, 23, could have expected a lengthy ban after racing along the M5 at almost double the speed limit.

But to the dismay of safety campaigners, he was given only a £200 fine and eight penalty points on his licence.

Magistrates in Ludlow, Shropshire, reached their decision after hearing tributes from family members in the police including his father Wayne - a retired constable who is now a civilian support worker at the West Mercia force.

Two years ago at the same court, West Mercia traffic officer Mark Milton escaped with an absolute discharge after being convicted of dangerous driving by testing a new unmarked squad car at speeds of up to 159mph on public roads.

PC Milton had originally been cleared of dangerous driving and speeding but the case was sent for retrial after the director of public prosecutions appealed to have the original decision overturned.

Yesterday road safety charities said the sentence handed out to Stammers "beggars belief".

The court heard how Stammers had passed an unmarked police car between Worcester and Droitwich in November. Mike Phillips, prosecuting, said: "At one point the officer checked his own speed and was travelling at 145mph.

"They eventually managed to match his speed and over a distance of about three miles he was travelling at speeds of 130mph-135mph."

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Mr Phillips said Stammers had also "undertaken" two cars in the middle lane before he was stopped as he left the motorway.

Amer Hussain, defending, described the incident as a "one-off piece of stupidity".

He handed the bench a numberof character references and said Stammers's father and various members of his family worked for West Mercia Constabulary.

Stammers - who was driving a high-powered Alfa Romeo 156 V6 - already had three penalty points on his licence for failing to stop at a red light, meaning he is now one point short of automatic disqualification.

He admitted careless driving, which carries a maximum £2,500 fine and between three and nine licence endorsement points. Courts also have the power to disqualify.

Julia Wright, of RoadPeace, said: "It's appalling that the defence should even mention the fact that his father was a police officer. That is irrelevant to the case and I hope the magistrates were not influenced by it."

At the family home in the Worcestershire village of Drakes Broughton, Stammers said he had swapped his Alfa for a more modest Peugeot 206.

"I'm fortunate not to have been banned but now I have to drive like an angel because if I make one more mistake, I will get banned."

His 49-year-old father, who served for 17 years as a PC, added: "I would like to think the fact I work for the police force had no bearing on the magistrates" decision not to ban him.'

West Mercia Police declined to comment on the matter.