A LEARNER driver travelled at nearly twice the speed limit because he believed he was being chased by a gang.

Martin Knight, who only holds a provisional licence, was clocked at 110mph in his Vauxhall Corsa on the A449 Claines to Blackpole Road in Worcester by a police officer following behind him on a motorbike.

Unemployed father-of-one, Knight, aged 27, of Pilgrim Road, Droitwich, admitted speeding following the incident at about 10.30pm on Thursday, May 29. Another vehicle was also involved in the incident and was driving behind Knight, flashing its lights.

Knight was also seen to flash his hazard warning lights in response. The police officer continued behind them at a safe distance to observe their driving.

Adrian Jones, prosecuting at Worcester Magistrates Court, said the police officer then sounded the siren and pulled both drivers over.

He said: “The officer told them both it was a ludicrously excessive speed.”

Knight, who has not passed his driving test yet, already has six points on his licence – three for speeding and three for driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence after he said his L- plates had fallen off.

The other driver was also charged with speeding but has yet to appear in court and enter a plea.

Judith Kenney, defending, said problems started for Knight when a friend of his became involved in a relationship with a woman who is an ex-partner of a man ‘well known in the courts’.

Ms Kenney said this friend’s windows had been broken and that his friend had been repeatedly chased on the road.

She said that Knight had had to change his vehicle several times because of his association with his friend.

“He has had to change his vehicle several times because he has been tracked by a group of individuals who have chased him along our streets,” she said.

“Mr Knight was trying to escape because he believed that this was one of those incidents.

“He was relieved to find that the man driving the other car was not one of the gang who have been causing a problem.”

Magistrates banned Knight from driving for 56 days and fined him £65.

They also ordered him to pay costs of £60.

Knight, who is on jobseeker’s allowance and is in receipt of child tax credit, will pay at a rate of £5 per week.