Internet-hit Cat and Fiddle biker escapes jail for dangerous driving

A biker from Greater Manchester who uploaded a film of a ride in which he almost crashed head-on into a car has been found guilty of dangerous driving.

Jack Sanderson, 22, swerved and rolled 40ft (12m) down an embankment on the A537 Buxton New Road in Macclesfield to avoid an oncoming car in February.

Footage of the crash on the Cat and Fiddle road became a hit on YouTube.

Sanderson, of Mossley, was sentenced to 12 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months by Macclesfield magistrates.

'Sweeping dangerous bends'

He was also ordered to complete 300 hours of unpaid work and disqualified from driving for two years.

The biker, of New Earth Street, recorded the crash on what has been branded Britain's most dangerous road on a camera fixed to his helmet.

He told a previous hearing at Macclesfield Magistrates' Court: "I was in full control until I hit the fence. I drove into the fence to avoid a collision."

Sgt Andrew Dennison said Sanderson was riding too fast for his ability

Sgt Andrew Dennison said: "The video posted online clearly showed Jack overtaking vehicles across double white lines and riding too fast for his ability on sweeping dangerous bends.

"As a result of this driving Sanderson lost control of his bike crossing the opposing carriageway narrowly missing a vehicle travelling in the opposite direction before flipping his bike off the carriageway and down a 40ft embankment.

"It was only by blind luck that Sanderson avoided a catastrophic collision with another vehicle."

The Peak District A537 road between Macclesfield, Cheshire, and Buxton, Derbyshire features severe bends and steep drops.

The Road Safety Foundation charity has called on the government to spend more money on the Cat and Fiddle to improve safety, but said the attitude of motorists also needed to change to make it safer.