Striker's '120mph nightclub bid'

A footballer accused of speeding while pursued by police told officers he was going to a nightclub after a text from his girlfriend, a court has heard.

Aberdeen striker Lee Miller allegedly drove dangerously at up to 120mph in a 70mph zone on the A90 Aberdeen to Dundee road on 30 March last year.

It is also alleged the 26-year-old drove at up to 90mph in a 40mph zone.

Mr Miller, of Perth, denies the charge of dangerous driving and is standing trial at Stonehaven Sheriff Court.

Grampian Pc Alistair MacLeod told the court: "We saw a car travelling south. It was quite clear it was travelling in excess of the 70mph limit.

"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."

"I was concerned something was going to go horribly wrong"

The road traffic officer said they became aware of Mr Miller's car while parked in a patrol car.

He said they went in pursuit of the vehicle at 125mph.

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.'

"I was concerned something was going to go horribly wrong. It just needs a puddle in the road.

"If someone is going to crash a car at that speed the very minimum that could happen is serious injury."

'Terrible state'

The officer said Mr Miller braked for two cameras on the dual carriageway and they did not flash.

He said the speedometer in the police car showed an average speed of 90mph though the contraflow system set up for roadworks.

The police officer told the court Mr Miller pulled over in a layby as soon as they activated their flashing lights.

He said: "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 the footballer gave any explanation for his driving, he 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."

The officer told the court they were unable to carry out speed checks because the car was going so fast.

He said it was the first time in his entire career that he had failed to catch up with a car on a dual carriageway.

The trial continues later this year.

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