Wallasey’s Stephen Barr escapes jail after hitting twice the speed limit

Jul 22 2009 by Staff Reporter, Birkenhead News

A SPEEDING driver has escaped jail after hitting twice the legal speed limit on a notorious Wirral accident blackspot.

Stephen Barr, 21, of Twickenham Drive, Wallasey, was found guilty of dangerous driving at Wirral Magistrates Court on July 2.

At his sentencing last week the court heard how a police officer with a speed gun clocked Barr in his grey hatchback Rover driving at 60mph on the 30mph Seabank Road on Feb 12, at 10.05pm.

Barr, who lives with his mother and stepfather, sped past four junctions and would have had no time to react to any emerging vehicle.

The Wallasey stretch is a notorious accident blackspot and has been targeted by Merseyside Police, as well as being included in a road safety campaign run by Wirral Council.

The court heard that one police officer who was poised with the handheld monitoring device saw Barr speed past the line of vehicles in front of him, pulling out in to the side of the road which would have been used by oncoming traffic.

Prosecuting, Alan Currums said: “Near the junction of Elgin Drive the officer saw the grey Rover overtake four vehicles on the wrong side of the road.”