Driver who escaped Islamics fined for speeding

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Engineer hit 103mph on way to post- drama holiday Wick Sheriff Court is told

A TON-UP speeder was caught as he headed off on a much-needed holiday weeks after escaping from Islamic extremists in Egypt the court at Wick heard yesterday.
They surrounded project engineer David Wade's jeep in Cairo and one of the terrorist flung himself on the bonnet. But the vehicle acclerated and shook off its pursuers.
Wade required counselling after the frightening experience, and it was one of the factors that Sheriff Andrew Berry took into consideration when passing sentence after hearing about the drama.
Wade, 28, was fined £270 and banned from driving for a year after admitting driving at "a grossly excessive speed".
Police clocked his high-powered BMW M3 on the 60mph limit Hempriggs straight of the A99 travelling at 103mph. By coincidence, one of the officers had attended at the scene of an accident which claimed the life of Wade's brother travelling as a passenger in a car, eleven years ago.
David Barclay, prosecuting, said that driving conditions were 'favourable' on the day of the offence, June 11, last year. Wade, a first offender, was co-operative with police officers throughout their inquiries.
Advocate Graham Robertson said that Wade and his companions managed to reached their hotel after being targeted by the extremists and he was airlifted out to Germany soon afterwards.Mr Robertson continued: "Since that day, he has been attending psycho-therapy counselling in Inverness. On the day of the offence he was seeking to get away for a holiday but that is not an explanation for his excessive speed. He was surprised when told the speed he had been driving at but can't give any explanation for it."
The advocate added: "Mr Wade was heading for Aberdeen airport with friends but was not running behind time. He tells me he was in the process of overtaking a certain vehicle on the straight stretch of road and thought the way was perfectly clear. He did not see any other vehicles but accepts he was travelling at speed."
Wade, said to be earning between £30,000 and £40,000 a year, has not worked since December of last year, partly due to the downturn in the oil industry but was said to be keen to get back to work. Loss of his licence would be "a signifcant handicap" for his work, said Mr Robertson, but the accused was hoping that alternative duties could be found to offset his inability to drive.
Sentencing Wade, Sheriff Andrew Berry said that he was taking everything into account, the accused's personal difficulties, the fact he had accepted responsibility and that his employment status was "up in the air.
Wade will require to pass an extending driving test after his driving ban ends.