A teen motorcyclist, who drove at excessive speeds of up to 123mph, has been given a suspended prison sentence and a driving ban.
Harvey Thomas, 19, of Emersons Green was sentenced at Bristol Crown Court after being convicted of one count of dangerous driving, six counts of exceeding a 40mph speed limit, and two counts of exceeding a 50mph speed limit. Several of the offences happened in Filton.
Thomas received a 10-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, and was ordered to pay £150 costs and a £187 victim surcharge.
As part of the sentence, he will undergo rehabilitation activities and carry out 120 hours of unpaid work over the next 12 months.
He is also banned from driving for 18 months and will have to undertake an extended test following the ban.
Thomas committed the offences over a three-month period earlier this year, mainly in Filton and Patchway, using a motorbike without number plates.
But following an investigation, police identified Thomas and the bike he was using, and linked him to multiple offences. Thomas’ speeding spree came to an end on Sunday April 28, when road officer PC Mark Lambert spotted a bike being ridden by Thomas without plates near junction 17 of the M5 northbound.
The bike reached speeds of up to 150mph during the pursuit, which went onto the M4 westbound and across the Prince of Wales bridge, before heading back in the opposite direction.
Using a roadblock, officers were able to stop Thomas, before detaining him.
Inspector Matt Boiles said: “Harvey Thomas put the lives of others, as well as his own
life, at risk by the dangerous
and reckless driving he engaged in.
“There was clear evidence he regularly rode at speeds of up to 123mph past fixed camera sites and he clearly thought himself to be above the law.
“Officers and staff worked together to carry out enquiries and they were able to identify both the rider and the bike, which has ultimately led to this conviction.
“Speeding is one of the ‘Fatal Five’ offences, and we’ll continue to take a proactive response to reduce these risks on our
roads.”