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Prison sentence for 122mph biker | Prison sentence for 122mph biker |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A motorcyclist caught speeding at 122mph (196km/h) with his 14-year-old son riding pillion has been sentenced to six months in prison. | A motorcyclist caught speeding at 122mph (196km/h) with his 14-year-old son riding pillion has been sentenced to six months in prison. |
Robert Bennett, 47, from Barnstaple in Devon, had pleaded guilty to dangerous driving at an earlier hearing. | Robert Bennett, 47, from Barnstaple in Devon, had pleaded guilty to dangerous driving at an earlier hearing. |
Exeter Crown Court heard his son was not wearing any protective clothing at the time of the offence in April 2008. | Exeter Crown Court heard his son was not wearing any protective clothing at the time of the offence in April 2008. |
Sentencing Bennett, the judge said that if he had lost control of the bike it would have become a "missile". | Sentencing Bennett, the judge said that if he had lost control of the bike it would have become a "missile". |
Had he lost control of his motorcycle at that speed the result, I'm sure, would have been fatal Pc Duncan Russell, Devon and Cornwall Police | |
Bennett had picked his son up for an access visit when he was caught by a police mobile speed camera on the North Devon Link Road, near South Molton. | Bennett had picked his son up for an access visit when he was caught by a police mobile speed camera on the North Devon Link Road, near South Molton. |
His son was filmed holding on to the seat of the motorbike with his bare hands. | His son was filmed holding on to the seat of the motorbike with his bare hands. |
Bennett said he had "pulled back the throttle" on his Suzuki 1300cc motorbike because it had "started to rain". | Bennett said he had "pulled back the throttle" on his Suzuki 1300cc motorbike because it had "started to rain". |
Judge Phillip Wassell told Bennett: "Had you lost control of your motorcycle it would have become a missile and caused a serious accident and probably death would have followed. | Judge Phillip Wassell told Bennett: "Had you lost control of your motorcycle it would have become a missile and caused a serious accident and probably death would have followed. |
"The lack of responsibility is almost unbelievable. | "The lack of responsibility is almost unbelievable. |
"The matter is so serious a custodial sentence cannot be avoided." | "The matter is so serious a custodial sentence cannot be avoided." |
Potentially fatal | |
Speaking outside court Pc Duncan Russell, from Devon and Cornwall Safety Camera Partnership, said: "Robert Bennett accepted that what he did was dangerous and the sentence passed by the court today reflects how serious this incident was. | |
"He was lucky his actions did not lead to anyone being hurt. | |
"Had he lost control of his motorcycle at that speed the result I'm sure would have been fatal." | |
In addition to his six month sentence, Bennett was banned from driving fro 18 months and will have to take an extended driving test at the end of his disqualification. |