'Body find' detective spared ban

A police officer caught speeding as he hurried home to wash after handling a dead body has escaped a driving ban.

Magistrates heard how Detective Inspector Jeremy Lowe of Matlock, Derbyshire, had been clocked by a speed camera.

He was recorded driving at 37mph in a 30mph zone in Alfreton, Derbys.

Lowe, a policeman for 24 years admitted the offence and had three penalty points added to his licence taking his total to 12 points.

Exceptional hardship

Magistrates must disqualify a driver with 12 points or more unless it would cause the defendant 'exceptional hardship'.

But they decided against banning Mr Lowe at South Derbyshire Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

The court was told he was caught speeding after being called to a house on the evening of 24 August, last year.

He had visited the property to decide how to deal with a body found there.

After examining the corpse, he said he hurried home to have a bath.