North Wales News Biker clocked at 153mph

[martekgsxr]

North Wales News Biker clocked at 153mph on A470 near Dolegllau spared jail
Oct 15 2010 by Eryl Crump, Daily Post


Andrew Jones
A MOTORBIKER who sped past police and other traffic at a “horrific” 153mph on a busy bank holiday has been banned from driving.

Mechanic Andrew Darren Jones was caught doing two-and-a-half times the 60mph speed limit on the A470 on his Kawasaki bike.

He was pulled over by a police officer on speed enforcement duties on an unmarked motorbike at Bron Aber near Trawsfynydd.

The officer had to get up to 120mph trying to catch Jones as he raced past other vehicles during a five-mile chase. The officer even considered abandoning the pursuit because it was so dangerous. Yesterday Jones, 37, was handed a four-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, when he admitted dangerous driving at Dolgellau Magistrates Court.

He was banned from driving for 30 months and ordered to carry out 250 hours unpaid community work. He was also ordered to pay £85 and will have to retake his driving test.

Sentencing Jones, from Dudley, West Midlands bench chairman Caerwyn Roberts said he’d achieved a “quite horrific speed”. He said: “This was an exceptionally high speed on a busy road during a bank holiday. You were riding in a manner that was dangerous to other road users.”

Richard Edwards, prosecuting, said: “The officer saw the motorbike approach when it was about a mile away at what he believed to be an excessive speed.

“He saw it overtake three vehicles crossing solid white lines and estimated its speed at 140mph. He checked the speed with a laser device and was recorded at 153mph.”

Jones was riding a Kawasaki ZXR1000, capable of a top speed of 180mph, on August 30. Mr Edwards added the road is straight but undulating with numerous dips, farm gates and junctions.

“The officer immediately went after him illuminating its emergency equipment. He had some difficulty gaining on the bike despite his speed reaching 120mph at times.

On the brow of a hill near Coed y Brenin the officer saw the motorbike overtake four vehicles.

“At that point the officer considered abandoning the pursuit on safety grounds but continued because he feared the biker would continue at high speed until reaching his destination or crashing,” he added.

As Jones approached Ganllwyd and a 40mph limit he looked round and saw the police officer.

“He slowed and pulled into a lay-by where the officer spoke to him. Told of the speed, Jones did not appear surprised and at interview accepted everything put to him,” said Mr Edwards.

Gareth Evans, defending, said Jones apologised to the court and the police for any inconvenience he had caused. “He accepts the speed was excessively high. It is the highest I have come across in this court,” he said.

Urging the court to be lenient, Mr Evans said Jones worked for a truck company and was required to be on call.

“In his employment he drives up to 40,000 miles a year. If he is disqualified for any length of time he will lose that job and he may face dire financial circumstances,” he added.

Jones left court without comment.

Superintendent Gary Ashton said: “The irresponsible behaviour of this motorcyclist could have had catastrophic consequences and I am pleased that the sentence reflects the gravity of this offence. Safe, responsible, legal riders who have due care for their own safety and that of other road users are welcome, but we will not accept anyone riding in a reckless, dangerous or unlawful manner.

“We will continue to target those who put their lives and the lives of others at risk. We work with the motorbike community and recognise that it is a minority who ride well over the speed limit. We will continue to target these offenders and where necessary use covert vehicles to do so.”

[Paulington]

As always, the Police are out there catching the real criminals. .
____________________
"Four wheels move the body, two wheels move the soul."
Current Vehicles: '89 Kawasaki KDX200, '99 Yamaha XV535, '00 Honda ST1100 Pan-European, '08 Suzuki GSX-R1000, '08 Mitsubishi Lancer GS4 2.0 TDCi, '15 BMW 1 Series 116d Sport Turbo.
CBT: 27/08/08. Theory: 04/09/09. Module 1: 16/09/09. Module 2: 01/10/09.

[c_dug]

In fairness overtaking on solid whites at over 100mph is a pretty dumb thing to do. Kind of serves him right.
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I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

[IanRMartin]

[Hetzer]

So part of his penalty is losing his livelihood. I guess that'll leave him plenty of time to do his 250 hours community-service. But less money with which to pay the fine.

Still, he did hurt an awful lot of people.
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"There's the horizon! Ride hard, ride fast and cut down all who stand in your way!"

[c_dug]

He knew what he was doing, 150mph overtakes over solid whites can't be classed as safe riding in anybodies books. He took a risk, he lost, if he knew his job relied on his licence then he was even more stupid to be riding like that in the first place.
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I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

[Hetzer]

[IanRMartin]

[PizzImperfect]

He deserved it. I'd have bin callin him a "Mental B*stard" if he had flew past me!

[Azonicben]

“horrific” 153mph

Yeah thats fvcking horrific, what was he hanging around for? twist the throttle all the way
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Cbt-23/09/07.....Theory-16/09/08.....Das passed 10/10/08.....
Current bike- GsxR750 K4. Broken: Cbr400rr (Nc29) Sold: Hyosung GT125R

[Hetzer]

[plugger147]

So he was doing over 150 past the copper who only had to get up to speeds of 120 to catch him?????

Sounds like another case of laser devices that haven't been tested on bikes screwing up readings again.
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Tristan the wrote: just whipped off my trousers to find a big bruise on my arse, caused by matt rear ending me...

[pepperami]

[P.]

[0ddball]

Biker doing 150 = Dangerous, horrific with catastrophic consequences.

Copper doing 150 = Highly trained safe superhuman with catlike reflexes.

[Welshd1k]

reminds me of the time i got pulled on my ns125 ...


You must have been doing 100+mph because i was doing 120 to catch you ...

yeah ok i was in 5th gear doing 75-80 ish
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Current >Cb600fx hornet, ns125rk90 21.7bhp@wheel<
Sold >,zxr400 h2 (33bhp kit) rd350 n1 rd350 lc2<

[IanRMartin]

[Polarbear]

Its just this countrys fixation with speed kills. As I've said before I've done well over 150 on the autobahns in Germany and the same on the motorways in UK. One is perfectly safe and legal, the other is horrendously dangerous and a prison sentence

Same bike, same rider and actually better roads in the UK as the autobahn was 2 lane, not 3.

Dangerous driving should be dangerous driving, not speeding.

[Wilson123]

He's an idiot for doing 150 on roads like that when he needs his licence for his job + he's an idiot for pulling over when he saw flashing blues at 150

Harsh punishment though, fucking pigs
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Doug97 wrote: Fuck you, what they did was awesome. You just wish you had the balls to be like them, instead of being constantly afraid that there's a rule somewhere out there you might be breaking.

[Acemastr]

It doesn't state anywhere about video evidence, if he had simply played dumb I expect he'd have gotten away with it. Unless i'm reading it wrong.
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2017 KTM 350 XC-F - 2014 Yamaha R6 - 2005 Yamaha YZ125
2016 Toyota Tacoma Limited

[P.]

[Nixon]

[Mr Hammers]

[Kal]

The rider was being an absolute idiot.

North Wales. Undulating road with limited visability. Bank Holiday traffic. Crossing solid white line.

At what point was this not going to be a licence losing situation, and from his reported reaction he knew it when he was pulled.

Ride appropriately to the hazards that are present, including unmarked Police Bikes in traffic.

Yeah he has lost his job, which is harsh but out of the range of possible consequences it really isnt that bad.
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Kal...
I Like To Hoon It Hoon It I Like To Hoon It Hoon It I Like To Hoon It Hoon It Ya Like To (HOON IT!).
1984 GB250 Clubman,1983 CB250N Superdream, 1999 GPZ500S

[Hywel]