MCN Letter of the Week
Fri, 13 Mar 2009
I was caught at 128mph.. after pulling a wheelie at 70 ish, on a duel carriageway, with a passenger in 2005. I received a 2 year ban, a 12 month suspended sentence, 250 hrs community service, 12 months probation, had to take an extended re-test, and had a crush order on a 12 month old Gixxer 1000 K4.
The judge commented that it was the most dangerous thing he'd ever seen on a motorbike and recommended I was sent to jail. As I had a mortgage and lived alone I rented my house out, as I was expecting a jail term. When I got a suspended sentence I found myself homeless and I had rented out my house thru an estate agent. I lost my job as I was a transport manager. Oh and I got a £1000 fine too.
I got an additional 3 months ban on my heavy goods licence, and the week I got my licence back I was featured on the Police Camera Action TV programme, without my consent.
The charge was dangerous driving, I was insured, taxed, sober, I didn't cause any hardship to other road-users, I didn't have an accident. The bike was in pristine condition and totally legal in everyway. I had to see a probation officer prior to my Crown Court case. I argued in court that the police in an unmarked sports car egged me on into a race, and failed to attempt to stop me for 4 miles so they could film for evidence thus endangering the passenger further. I was told to plead guilty by the judge to all charges or be sent to jail that day. I pleaded guilty and was sentenced anyway. The only reason I didn╣t go to jail was that the prisons were full.
If I was drunk or I'd had stolen the bike I would have received less of a sentence. If I had been in a car I would have got a 12 month ban which is mandatory for dangerous driving.
I was made an example of and so was Mr Bennett. If you get to see the footage of the speed freaks edition of police camera action then you tell me how dangerous I was. I was 41 years old at the time, in full leathers etc as were the passenger. Yes I was wrong but we all do it on sports bikes from time to time don't we!
Nat Coates
Poole, Dorset
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