Elliot McEwen, 31, of Castle Close, Pitstone, was clocked by police driving up to 147 miles per hour on the A41 Aston Clinton bypass, a speed that magistrates said they have never had to sentence someone for before.

The court heard that McEwan had stopped in a layby for a cigarette on February 6 when two people pulled up to talk to him, asking him about his car, a Ford Mustang.

It was said that McEwen felt the conversation had undertones that made him feel uncomfortable and unsafe.

He drove off and the two appeared to be following him, so he doubled back and they copied his action, confirming to him that he was being followed and making him feel intimidated.

However, the car is believed to have turned off at some point and was replaced by a high-performance unmarked police car that followed him along the A41 towards Pitstone.

It was while police were following that the speed of 147 miles per hour was recorded and the officers activated their blue flashing lights once they entered a built-up area close to McEwen's home.

When a police officer spoke to him he told them that he was being followed and felt intimidated.

Magistrates said: "The speed was way above our guidelines and allthough it was nearly midnight, driving at that speed has got to have some danger. In spite of this, we therefore think it was a very serious case and none of us on this bench have heard of that level of speeding before."

McEwen was banned from driving for nine months, fined £700, ordered to pay £60 costs of £60 and asked to pay a victim surcharge of £15.