A teenager from Bristol was filmed driving a motorbike at excessive speeds past safety cameras. The shocking dash cam footage shows 19-year-old Harvey Thomas speeding on the M5, resulting in him being hit with a suspended prison sentence and a driving ban.
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. He was also convicted of 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. He was also ordered to pay £150 costs and a £187 victim surcharge.
He has also been disqualified from driving for 18 months and will have to take an extended test after the ban ends. As well as the ban, Thomas will have to undergo rehabilitation work and do 120 hours of unpaid work over the next 12 months.
The driving offences were committed over a space of three months earlier this year, mainly in the Filton and Patchway areas. Thomas drove a motorbike without a number plate in an attempt to avoid being identified, police have said.
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 motorbike reached speeds of around 150mph during the pursuit. The shocking footage shows the chase onto the M4 westbound and across the Prince of Wales bridge, before heading back in the opposite direction.
Eventually with the help of a rolling roadblock, police were able to safely stop and detain Thomas on the M4, just before junction 20.
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.
“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.”