Motorcyclist filmed doing 140mph on A21
A MOTORCYCLIST was filmed by police driving at breakneck speeds of up to 140mph as he raced from Hastings to London on the A21.
Police were alerted to the man's dangerous driving following numerous complaints from Hastings residents and drivers on the A21 road - often referred to as the snail trail!
They reported a motorcyclist riding dangerously and at excessive speed on a daily basis.
Police carried out intelligence work with regard to the biker who appeared to be starting his journey in the London Road area of St Leonards.
The method of riding was considered so extreme by investigating officers from the Sussex Road Policing Unit that normal stopping procedures were not considered appropriate.
Instead, the rider was safely tracked using unmarked cars and an unmarked motorcycle in order to gather evidence to support a prosecution.
In astonishing police footage he is seen speeding at over 100mph as he approaches Robertsbridge.
As he enters Hurst Green he is again filmed doing around 100mph - in a 30mph area.
The damning evidence goes on to show him overtaking on solid white lines, driving on the wrong side of the road, doing wheelies, driving one-handed, zipping between lanes, and hitting the horrifying 140mph on the Lamberhurst bypass.
But it was the end of the road for Michael James Collins, 22, when he was arrested at the motorcycle dealership in South London where he works on Wednesday last week.
Collins, who gave an address in Beckenham, Kent, appeared at Crawley Magistrates Court the following day where he pleaded guilty to a charge of dangerous driving.
He was sentenced to a two year suspended prison sentence, disqualified from driving for two years (with the requirement to take an extended test), given 240 hours unpaid work and ordered to pay costs.
Speaking after the case, Inspector Marc Clothier said: "This type of riding is wholly unacceptable and poses a significant risk to every road user.
"Sussex Police will deal robustly with this type of flagrant law-breaking to ensure we make the roads a safer place for everyone to use.
"I hope this conviction will send out a strong message to motorcyclists who choose to use the roads of Sussex as a race track. We will not tolerate this behaviour and we have the ability and resources to deal with these riders."
He added: "Since we took delivery of a number of unmarked bikes, the number of motorcyclists caught breaking the law on our roads has increased dramatically.
"Road Policing officers will continue to deploy such vehicles as long as riders continue to behave in an irresponsible manner."
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Sunday 27 May 2012
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