Scientist fined after her luxury Porsche was caught speeding has case against her thrown out

A scientist who was ordered to pay £1,000 in fines and costs after her luxury Porsche was caught speeding, has had the case against her dismissed after it emerged that her mother was driving at the time.

Sadia Khanom, 28, who developed a 'revolutionary' disinfectant spray during the Covid pandemic, had been convicted of failing to provide information after her 142mph Macan was caught exceeding the speed limit near her former university.

However, she hired a lawyer to reopen the case when it came to light that Khanom's mother F'Moni had received a prosecution notice from the police at their family home in Little Sutton, near Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, and 'forgot' to pass on the details. It turned out that biomedical scientist Khanom had been away on business at the time of the alleged offence.

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The actual speed of the car was travelling at was not disclosed. At Chester Magistrates' Court, charges of speeding and failing to provide documents were dropped against Khanom, who lives in Southleigh Grange, Beeston, Leeds, after prosecutors accepted her explanation.

It is thought unlikely that her mother, who runs an Indian restaurant with Khanom's father Kabir, will be charged due to the time elapsed since the incident last March.

Khanom, initially on track for a PhD focusing on Alzheimer's research, founded Voltique and launched an electric spray designed to combat pathogens amid the pandemic. The innovative disinfectant, which reportedly creates a protective barrier lasting up to 14 days, was celebrated as "one of the biggest breakthroughs of the pandemic".

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By June 2021, following successful trials with the NHS, NASA, and independent labs, she secured £10m in orders from governments and leading corporations.

The enquiry into speeding emerged in March after Khanom's Porsche, equipped with a 7-speed semi-automatic gearbox, was caught by a speed camera near the University of Chester, where she had studied for her Masters Degree. Following the incident, a notice requesting driver details was sent to her home in Ellesmere Port, but with no response, authorities charged Khanom for not providing information regarding the driver's identity.

In August, she faced a fine of £660, additional costs of £354 with a surcharge, and six points were added to her licence. However, the matter was revisited in October, leading to a not guilty plea and a trial set for this month.

Before the trial commenced, Khanom's lawyer, Akef Akbar, engaged with prosecutor Miss Val Tonkinson who consented to drop the charges.

During the hearing, Miss Tonkinson stated: "I have had an opportunity to have a discussion with my friend. He has indicated that the letter has been received by the defendant’s mum who is in court.

"The defendant was not at the address at the time and was not driving the vehicle at the time of the speeding offence. She was not in the area at that time. She travels a lot for work.

"The person who drove intended to respond but forgot. She did not give the document to her daughter. I have no reason to doubt that.

"I have been provided with evidence of where the defendant was at the time. On that basis I will offer no evidence in respect of both offences."

After the proceedings, Mr Akbar applied for a 'defendant’s costs order', which was approved. This order requires that her legal fees, equivalent to legal aid rates, be covered by central funds.

Khanom is a former managing director of Voltique Nanoscale Ltd, and a co-director of Voltique Ltd, founded in May 2020. She now co-directs a Liverpool restaurant business.

Her interest in science began at age 14, and following her grandfather's struggle with Alzheimer's, she vowed to find an early prevention for the disease. Khanom pursued her interest in science by studying biomedical science at Salford University and later earning a Master's degree at Chester University.

During the pandemic, she put her PhD on hold and worked for her parents’ Indian restaurant. She witnessed first hand the impact of Covid 19 as the business had to close for six months.

She tested her invention on various surfaces at the restaurant. In a chat with Curry Life magazine, she said: "My parents always taught me that humanity comes first no matter who you are.

"We are born in this world for a reason, to make a difference and to follow our passion. It helped that I was interested in science from a young age and my parents have been very supportive.

"Being the eldest child, I felt it was my responsibility to do something and give back to society. I have seen my parents work so hard building their restaurant, that from a younger generation point of view, it feels natural to want to give something back."