Motorcyclist sentenced for repeatedly driving past safety cameras at speeds of up to 123mph

A 19-year-old man who repeatedly drove a motorbike at excessive speeds past fixed safety camera sites in South Gloucestershire has been given a suspended prison sentence and a driving ban.

Harvey Thomas, 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 in contravention of a Local Traffic Order, and two counts of exceeding a 50mph speed limit in contravention of a Local Traffic Order.

He 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, Thomas will have to undergo rehabilitation activities and carry out 120 hours of unpaid work over the next 12 months. He’s also been disqualified from driving for 18 months and will have to undertake an extended test following the ban.

Thomas, who committed the offences over a three-month period earlier this year mainly in Filton and Patchway, used a motorbike without number plates in a bid to avoid justice, but following an investigation we were able to identify him and the bike he was using and link him to multiple offences.

On Sunday 28 April, Roads Policing officer PC Mark Lambert, who was in an unmarked car, spotted a bike being ridden without plates near junction 17 of the M5 northbound. The bike made off at speed and officers pursued it. 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.

Officers used a rolling roadblock to slow down other traffic down so they could safely stop and detain him on the M4 eastbound, prior to junction 20. Dashcam footage of this incident can be seen below.

Insp 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.

“Our investigation was complex, due to the bike being ridden without a vehicle registration mark and the fact Thomas was dressed in dark unidentifiable clothing.

“Officers and staff from our Roads Policing Unit, intelligence team and our Stolen Vehicle Examiner 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.

“During the pursuit, Thomas rode at extremely dangerous speeds and it was only due to the skills and tactics of the responding officers that this incident was brought to a safe conclusion.

“Within the Roads Policing Unit we have the specialist capability and knowledge to identify those who needlessly put lives in danger, and we’ll always take robust action to keep the public safe.

“Speeding is one of the ‘Fatal Five’ offences, along with distraction, careless driving, failing to wear a seatbelt and drink or drug driving, and we’ll continue to take a proactive response to reduce these risks on our roads.”