Briton booked for speeding in London and New Zealand by same policeman
By Paul Chapman in Wellington
A British man has proved there is no escaping the long arm of the law after being clocked for speeding on opposite sides of the world - by the same policeman.
When the driver was ticketed in the South Island of New Zealand he recognised Constable Andy Flitton as the officer who had booked him on the A5 in north London two years ago.
Constable Flitton, who was with the Metropolitan Police for 26 years, has since emigrated to New Zealand and is based at Rangiora, near Christchurch.
On being pulled over, the errant driver produced British and South African licences and told Constable Flitton he had also recently emigrated after living in Britain for the past 12 years.
"He asked if I had worked in London," Constable Flitton said. "I said, 'yes'.
"He asked if I used to operate the laser gun on the A5 in north London. I said, 'yes'.
"And he said, 'I thought it was you. You gave me my last speeding ticket there two years ago'.
"The minute he said it, I remembered the whole thing," Constable Flitton told the New Zealand Herald.
"We both just had a laugh."
The man told Constable Flitton he had been in New Zealand for less than two weeks and was still looking for a place to live.
"He only ever broke the law twice and both times I was the one to give him a ticket," Constable Flitton said.
"It just shows what a small world it really is."
The first speeding ticket cost the driver £60 in Britain and the second cost him 120 New Zealand dollars (£58).
By Paul Chapman in Wellington
A British man has proved there is no escaping the long arm of the law after being clocked for speeding on opposite sides of the world - by the same policeman.
When the driver was ticketed in the South Island of New Zealand he recognised Constable Andy Flitton as the officer who had booked him on the A5 in north London two years ago.
Constable Flitton, who was with the Metropolitan Police for 26 years, has since emigrated to New Zealand and is based at Rangiora, near Christchurch.
On being pulled over, the errant driver produced British and South African licences and told Constable Flitton he had also recently emigrated after living in Britain for the past 12 years.
"He asked if I had worked in London," Constable Flitton said. "I said, 'yes'.
"He asked if I used to operate the laser gun on the A5 in north London. I said, 'yes'.
"And he said, 'I thought it was you. You gave me my last speeding ticket there two years ago'.
"The minute he said it, I remembered the whole thing," Constable Flitton told the New Zealand Herald.
"We both just had a laugh."
The man told Constable Flitton he had been in New Zealand for less than two weeks and was still looking for a place to live.
"He only ever broke the law twice and both times I was the one to give him a ticket," Constable Flitton said.
"It just shows what a small world it really is."
The first speeding ticket cost the driver £60 in Britain and the second cost him 120 New Zealand dollars (£58).
