Woman, 76, in slowest police chase ever? (From Clacton and Frinton Gazette)

Woman, 76, in slowest police chase ever?

A PENSIONER sparked the slowest ever police chase on the A12 after she refused to stop for cops...driving at 10mph.

Caroline Turner, 76, caused a major police operation after driving the wrong way round a roundabout in Thorpe and veering on to the wrong side of the road into the path of oncoming vehicles.

She was followed by an unmarked police car from Thorpe to Weeley, to the A120 and on to the A12.

Her speed varied from 10mph to 20mph during the 27-mile “chase”.

An officer left his vehicle, ran alongside her Ford Fiesta, tapped on the window and asked her to pull over after Turner ignored emergency flashing lights.

Police formed a rolling road block and closed the A12 when she refused to pull over. She was eventually stopped at Marks Tey – eight miles after getting on the dual carriageway.

When asked to stop driving, Turner said: “Why, what have I done?”

After being told she was driving unnacceptably, she replied: “There is nothing to discuss, I’m going home.”

Turner, of Fairholme Avenue, Gidea Park, Romford, was detained in a police cell overnight on Tuesday because officers feared her driving could cause a fatal accident.

When she appeared at Colchester Magistrates’ Court yesterday, she admitted driving without due care and attention and failing to stop when asked by police Rafael Pigott, mitigating, said: “Police erred on the side of caution because of an elderly driver knocking over a young girl in the town centre recently.”

Barry Wheatcroft, chairman of the bench, disqualified Turner from driving for 12 months. She was fined £100 and ordered to pay £100 costs.

Mr Wheatcroft said: “The safety of the public is paramount and your driving yesterday was a demonstration of driving which was careless, bordering on dangerous.”