Elizabeth Donaldson, 31, of Gransha Road near Dromara, pleaded guilty to exceeding a 70mph speed limit at Ballymena Magistrates' Court on March 12.

Police monitored traffic at 9.50pm on May 8, 2025, during the North West 200. An officer followed her Volkswagen Jetta north of Ballymena on the motorway, where it reached speeds up to 120mph, then on the Lisnevenagh Road dual-carriageway between Ballymena and Antrim town.

The police vehicle travelled at 70mph as the Jetta pulled away. Donaldson admitted to officers at the roadside that she drove at 90mph.

Her defence accepted the guilty plea for exceeding 70mph. She had attended the North West 200 and drove home late at night on a motorway that was not busy.

Donaldson works as a bridal hairdresser in rural County Down and needs her driving licence. She has appointments booked until 2027 and held three penalty points already.

Deputy District Judge Noel Dunlop imposed four penalty points and a £350 fine. He instructed her to slow down in future.