Police Dog Sniffs Out Banned Driver After High-Speed Chase Near Bexhill
A keen police dog helped officers track down a banned driver who fled at speed near Bexhill. PD Cody, a 19-month-old German Shepherd, found Emma Hepburn hiding in thick woodland after she ditched her car in Crowhurst.
80mph Pursuit Ends with Woodland Capture
Hepburn, 36, gave police the slip after a short chase by the Roads Policing Unit. She was caught driving at 80mph in a 60mph zone near Coombe Valley at 10.40pm on September 1. She also hit 55mph in a 40mph zone during the escape.
PC Daniel Hopgood, handler of PD Cody, said: “Hepburn managed to temporarily lose police officers pursuing her. Her vehicle was found abandoned in a driveway. PD Cody quickly tracked her through tough terrain and into the woods. Though she was hidden in the undergrowth, the dog helped us locate and arrest her.”
Multiple Charges for Banned Driver
Emma Hepburn, unemployed and from Potmans Lane, Bexhill, faced several charges including careless driving, driving while disqualified, no insurance, and failure to stop.
At Hastings Magistrates’ Court on September 21, she admitted all offences. It emerged she was previously banned from driving, with the ban set to expire in 2024.
Community Sentence and New Driving Ban
Hepburn was sentenced to a community order requiring nine months of drug dependency treatment and 20 rehabilitation activity sessions. The court slapped a new driving ban of three years and eight months on her and fined a £114 victim surcharge.
PC Lloyd Archer, investigating, slammed her actions: “Hepburn’s reckless speeding on dark country lanes was dangerous. Excess speed is one of the main causes of serious road injuries and deaths. She ignored her previous disqualification and got behind the wheel anyway.”
He added: “She tested positive for cocaine when caught. She is lucky no one was hurt.”
PC Archer concluded: “This case shows our commitment to catching dangerous drivers. Thanks to teamwork and PD Cody’s tracking skills, a potential hazard has been taken off the roads.”
