Aberdeen FC striker wept as he was pulled over
Officer claimed Aberdeen FC’s Lee Miller was in ‘a terrible state’
Published:
ABERDEEN FC striker Lee Miller wept after being pulled over by police who accused him of driving at 120mph, an Aberdeenshire court has heard.
A traffic officer said he tried to calm down Scotland cap Miller, who was in a “terrible state”.
Pc Alistair MacLeod told Stonehaven Sheriff Court Miller was driving at “grossly excessive speeds” on his way to a nightclub after getting a text from his girlfriend.
The Aberdeen FC defender was allegedly clocked driving at speeds of up to 120mph on the A90 Aberdeen to Dundee road.
The 26-year-old Aberdeen FC player was also said to have driven at 90mph along a 40mph limit through a contraflow on the dual carriageway.
Aberdeen FC striker Miller was charged with dangerous driving after the alleged incident on March 30 last year.
During Miller’s trial yesterday, Pc MacLeod told how they went in pursuit of the vehicle at 125mph but could not catch up with the Ford Focus after spotting Miller’s car on the road shortly after midnight.
Pc MacLeod added: “When you do this job as a traffic officer, you get a fair indication of how fast cars are going. However, on this particular night the car was just going so fast. It was grossly over the speed limit.”
The road traffic officer said they spotted Aberdeen FC striker Miller’s car while parked in a patrol car at Fourdon junction near an accident blackspot. He said they drove at 125mph but could not catch up with the Ford Focus.
Pc MacLeod told the court: “I remember at that point I turned to my colleague and said ‘this guy has escaped. We’re not going to get him’.”
The officer claimed the police car eventually caught up with Miller’s car around 150 metres from the vehicle.
Pc MacLeod said the speedometer in the police car showed an average speed of 90mph though a contraflow system which was set up for roadworks.
Pc MacLeod told the court Miller pulled over in a layby as soon as they activated their flashing lights.
Depute fiscal Celia Dyckhoff asked what happened when the Aberdeen footballer’s car stopped.
Pc MacLeod replied: “I explained to him that should you look in your mirror and there’s a car following at speed then there’s the distinct possibility it’s a police car.”
Asked if Aberdeen striker Miller gave any explanation for his driving, Pc MacLeod replied: “He had some text from his girlfriend, some nightclub he wanted to go back to.
“I distinctly remember he was pretty upset with a couple of tears. I pointed out to him the fact that if you’re going to travel at that sort of speed there’s a risk of being caught.
“I was trying to calm him down, he was in a terrible state.”
Defending, Ronnie Rennuci asked why the officers did not use a speed detection device while in pursuit of Miller’s car. But the police officer told the court it was because the Aberdeen FC defender’s car was going so fast.
Pc MacLeod said it was the first time in his entire career that he had failed to catch up with a speeding car on a dual carriageway.
Miller, whose address was given in court papers as 66 Cooper Drive, Perth, denies the charge of dangerous driving. His trial continues later this year.
