A Swindon man has been sentenced after he overtook a undercover police car while over the drink-drive limit on the A350 this morning.
Following the overtake, the police officers followed the black BMW driven by Billy James Rich, 23, along the M4 towards Swindon where he reached speeds of up to 146mph.
He was subsequently stopped by officers from Tri-Force Roads Policing, where they discovered he was over the legal alcohol limited.
He was charged with drink driving and speeding and was remanded in custody to appear at Swindon Magistrates Court today, 21 June.
Rich, The Green, Highworth, pleaded guilty to the charges; he was disqualified from driving for 22 months, fined £692, and ordered to pay £69 victim surcharge and Crown Prosecution Costs of £85.
PC Andy Lee, of the Tri-Force Roads Policing Unit, said: “The speed limit is there for a reason. Not only did this driver reach completely unacceptable speeds, he had also been drinking. He clearly had no consideration for others and his actions put himself, other drivers and road users in danger.
“Please think before you get behind the wheel – if you are going to flout the law with behaviour like this, you will be caught, arrested and prosecuted. Nothing is worth taking the risk.”
