He was given an absolute discharge by District Judge Peter Wallis and no order was made for him to pay any costs. He was given no disqualification or penalty points. Mr Milton told the court he was still an advanced police driver “at the moment”.

He gave a sigh of relief as the sentence was announced.

Five speeding charges have been ordered to lie on the file. Judge Wallis said it would be absurd for any judge to bring them back before a court.

He told the court: “I can see no need for punishment. He has suffered quite a lot over the last two-and-a-half years.”

The traffic officer for West Mercia Police had denied all the charges during the hearing, a retrial after a previous not guilty verdict was overturned by the High Court.

During the trial, footage taken from the camera video fitted to a West Mercia Police Vauxhall Vectra was shown.

Milton was seen regularly travelling at more than 100mph on A-roads and up to 159mph on the M54 early on December 5, 2003.

Pat Sullivan, prosecuting, said the constable – who had 12 years’ service under his belt – was driving at “eyewatering speeds”.

Milton claimed he was honing his skills after an advanced driving course.

The court heard from Douglas Boulton, an advanced driving instructor, who compared Milton to a Formula One racing driver.

He told the court people have to practice their jobs in all industries. “Even Michael Schumacher does not do nothing until the next season – he still practices.”

The court was also told the on-board video camera which filmed Milton’s driving on the night in question was not an “approved dev- ice” and could not be used to convict Milton of four of the speeding charges allegedly committed on the A5.

During the trial Milton admitted he was breaking the speed limit but disputed the accuracy of the figures displayed on the camera.