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Speeding Porsche mum was 'on way to hospital'

25/ 4/2007

A MUM avoided a driving ban after breaking the speed limit in her Porsche to get her young daughter to hospital after she swallowed blood pressure tablets.

Nicola Lowrey-Arrigonie, 37, of Swallowfold, Simmondley successfully pleaded a medical emergency as "special reasons" before Tameside Magistrates' Court.

She said: "I had spoken to my brother-in-law, who is a doctor, and told him Harriet had taken the tablets. He said to get her straight to hospital.

"She was becoming drawn and drowsy. She was anxious because we were very anxious. She just needed to get to hospital. My car was there. I put her in the car and just went."

Defending, Gwyn Lewis said: "The reason she did not call an ambulance was that because of where she lives, she would have been at (Tameside) hospital by the time the ambulance had got to her. It was more sensible for her to get straight to the hospital."

A Gatso camera on Mottram Road, Stalybridge had taken a photograph of the Porsche Cayenne, clocking it at 40mph in a 30mph zone at 7.35pm on 16 March. She was facing a possible endorsement and disqualification.

"However, unusual circumstances appertained at the time," said Mr Lewis.

"Her daughter Harriet, who was three-and-a-half at the time, had swallowed some methyldopa pills (which lower blood pressure). Apparently they belonged to the next-door neighbour who was moving house. As a result of that they were found by the little girl.

"Her car was therefore used as an ambulance to get the child to the hospital. She was admitted on the 16th and discharged on the 17th."

Magistrates agreed there had been a medical emergency and gave Lowrey-Arrigonie an absolute discharge.