Video: Bristol man drove 145mph on motorway

An aircraft engineer from Bristol who drove at 145mph on the M4 motorway to get to the aid of his sick child has been given a suspended jail term.

Stephen Humby, was at work when his wife rang him to say the youngster was having an asthma attack in August last year.

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Bristol Crown Court heard the 42-year-old got permission to leave work and hurried home at 5.20am, only to be clocked at more than twice the speed limit by police.

Humby, of Hempton Lane, Almondsbury, admitted dangerous driving yesterday.

His three-month jail sentence was suspended for a year and he was also fined £1,000, ordered to pay £700 costs and banned from driving for two years. He must pass an extended driving test before returning to the road.

Richard Posner, prosecuting, told the court Humby was in his BMW 5 Series with a personalised registration on the M4 eastbound from the Second Severn Crossing. Humby told police he thought he was doing no more than 100mph.

Robin Shellard, defending, told the court: “He was at work in the early hours when he received a call from his wife to say their child was having an asthma attack.

“Mr Humby had the ability to calm the attack down.

“He downed tools and got into his car. He did the journey he had been doing for the last six months but he was in a state of anxiety. He went far faster than he should have done.”