Motorcyclist reaches speeds of 150mph during pursuit

Footage of a 19-year-old man driving a motorbike at up to 150mph during a police pursuit has been released by the force following his sentencing.

Harvey Thomas, of Emersons Green, was convicted at Bristol Crown Court for repeatedly driving his motorbike at excessive speeds.

He received a 10-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, and was ordered to pay £150 costs and a £187 victim surcharge when he appeared at court on 24 September. He was also disqualified from driving for 18 months.

Insp Matt Boiles, from Avon and Somerset Police, 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."

The court heard Thomas used a motorbike without number plates and committed speeding offences over a three-month period, mainly in Filton and Patchway.

During that period, he repeatedly reached speeds of 123mph.

Officers from the roads policing unit eventually caught up with him during a pursuit where he hit 150mph.

'Extremely dangerous speeds'

Thomas was arrested on 28 April when he was spotted on the motorbike near junction 17 of the M5 northbound.

He made off at speed and officers pursued it onto the M4 westbound and across the Prince of Wales bridge, before heading back in the opposite direction.

He was convicted of one count of dangerous driving, six counts of exceeding a 40mph (64 km/ph) speed limit, and two counts of exceeding a 50mph (80 km/ph) speed limit.

As part of his sentence, Thomas will have to undergo rehabilitation activities and carry out 120 hours of unpaid work over the next 12 months.

He has also been disqualified from driving for 18 months and will have to take an extended test following the ban.

Insp Matt Boiles, from Avon and Somerset Police, said: "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.

“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."