Porsche driver speeds 172 mph

Photo: Porsche driver speeds 172 mph

A man was jailed for 10 weeks in Britain after he was clocked at 172 mph (277 kph) in his company's Porsche – he became the fastest driver ever convicted of speeding in the country.

Tim Brady, 33, was caught on Jan. 27 driving the 98,000 pound (US$198,000; EUR140,000) Porsche 911 Turbo which he took without permission from his employer, luxury car rental firm HelpHire PLC.

The previous record - 156 miles (251 kilometers) per hour - was set by car dealer Jason McAllister in 2003.

Brady had nagged his boss take the Porsche out the day before but was repeatedly told no, the court heard. He returned the next day and took the car anyway.

Judge David Morton called the act "criminally self-indulgent."

"(You were) utterly thoughtless of the danger you might be creating for the innocent," he told Brady.

Brady, who admitted dangerous driving at a hearing last month, was banned from driving for three years and will have to take a new driving test before taking to the road again.

He quit his job a day after he was caught near Kingston Bagpuize, about 60 miles (95 kilometers) west of London.