A serving police officer charged with dangerous driving during the ‘Beast from the East’ has asked for his trial to be heard outside of Kent.

Mark Sloane, 29, crashed a Kent Police Vauxhall Astra while responding to a theft from a car in March last year.

Westminster Magistrates Court heard: “There was substantial speed in visibly poor conditions,” in the build up to the crash.

Deputy chief magistrate Tan Ikram heard Sloane was travelling at 56mph in a 30mph zone in Courtenay Road, Maidstone, in March last year.

After travelling over a roundabout Sloane lost control of the vehicle and crashed into three cars.

Two people were injured including a police officer.

Kuman Hussan suffered a broken collar bone in the crash while a PC Perkins suffered a broken finger.

The court heard Sloane was not in pursuit of another vehicle, but instead trying to reach the scene of a crime.

Sloane pleaded not guilty to a count of dangerous driving and asked for his trial to be heard in crown court.

Eva Niculiu, defending, asked for the trial to be heard outside of Kent.

She argued: “It could attract some undue attention in Maidstone.”

Mr Ikram said: “I think the general view is defendants are tried by the crown court local to where they are.”

He added he would note Sloane was a serving Kent Police officer.

The hearing was adjourned until April 3 at Maidstone Crown Court.

A decision on where a trial will take place will be heard there.