A woman has denied “racing” against her boyfriend after they were both caught hurtling down the M90 at speeds of around 100mph.
Both Laura Colquhoun and her then-partner were clocked travelling at excessive speeds along the motorway, near Milnathort, in March last year.
The mother-of-four, of Duntaylor Avenue, Aberfeldy, was originally accused of racing her Volkswagen Touran against her boyfriend, who was in a red Ford Focus.
But the allegation was dropped by the Crown when she pled guilty to a charge of dangerous driving.
Perth Sheriff Court heard Colquhoun regretted getting behind the wheel after a row with her boyfriend, who was described as a “previous co-accused”.
She had done so out of “fear,” her lawyer said.
Police patrol
Fiscal Jill Drummond said the motorway surface was wet at the time of the offence, with a “moderate” flow of traffic heading north in both lanes.
“At about 5pm on March 13, officers were carrying out a static speed check on a sliproad to the Edinburgh to Perth motorway, near Milnathort,” she told the court.
“At this time, they observed the accused’s vehicle travelling in lane two, well in excess of the speed limit.
“Officers then pointed a laser at another vehicle, which appeared to be coming up to the accused’s vehicle.
“A speed of about 104mph was recorded.”
She said: “The accused remained in lane two as she negotiated a bend in the road and passed slower moving vehicles in lane one.
“The officers followed the accused, however her vehicle was momentarily lost to sight when she went round a left-hand bend.
“On looking at the patrol car’s speedometer and without any aim on the accused’s vehicle, the speed was at 100mph.
“The accused had approached the offslip to St Andrew’s, again passing a number of slower vehicles in the other lane.
“As she went underneath a flyover on the approach to Glenfarg, officers activated their blue lights and sirens.
“The accused pulled over on to the hard shoulder.”
Ms Drummond said: “Officers spoke to the accused who advised them she was heading to Perth.
“The driver of the other vehicle was also pulled over and spoken to about his manner of driving.
“It transpired both parties were known to each other and were in fact partners.”
Colquhoun made no comment when she was shown the speedometer reading.
Troubling relationship
The 37-year-old admitted dangerous driving by travelling at excessive speeds, overtaking other vehicles on the inside lane and failing to adjust her speed to road conditions.
Her solicitor told the court: “In hindsight, Ms Colquhoun accepts that she should not have been driving on that day.
“There had been an argument with her partner and she made the decision to drive.
“She says she should not have driven in the state that she was in.”
The lawyer added: “Ms Colquhoun advices that this position was ultimately made by fear, as there was a very difficult and troubling relationship between her and her then-partner.
“She has shown a great deal of insight and regret in terms of her actions and the potential consequences.”
The court heard Colquhoun, who is unemployed, was “heavily reliant” on her licence.
“I think it is very unlikely that the court will see Ms Colquhoun again,” the solicitor added.
Sheriff William Wood told Colquhoun: “There seems to be a bit of a background to this case. I should defer for reports.”
The case was continued until September 28 and Colquhoun was banned from the road in the interim.
