Unlicenced biker clocked at 226kmh

A teenager with only his theory test has been clocked doing 226kmh while trying to escape police on his motorcycle.

Ezra Christopher Albert Gordon had just quit the army because of all its ’’rules and restrictions’’ when he led police on a high-speed chase along the alternate highway between Picton and Christchurch.

His lawyer said it was his ‘‘first taste of freedom’’ since joining the army two years ago.

The 19-year-old passed several patrol cars while being chased, with each one abandoning pursuit concerned for the safety of other drivers.

Gordon appeared at the Blenheim District Court on Tuesday where he admitted two charges of dangerous driving and two of aggravated failure to stop for police.

Gordon’s chase was triggered by a police officer noticing his tail light was not working and indicated for him to pull over about 6pm on August 25.

But Gordon refused, speeding past a line of cars on State Highway 7 in Waikari, south of Culverden.

He passed three more patrol cars along the highway, which also turned on their lights and siren, but Gordon continued driving at speed, reaching 226kmh.

Other patrol cars in the area were alerted to Gordon’s driving and he was clocked at 179kmh near Springs Junction about 9.30pm, about 130 kilometres north of the first patrol car.

Gordon was eventually stopped and arrested.

He told police he got too cocky and thought he could get away with it, the summary said.

Three days earlier, Gordon was clocked at more than 150kmh on Breezes Rd in Christchurch, which had a 50kmh limit.

When spoken to by police Gordon said he did not have a motorcycle licence and was afraid of being caught without one.

His lawyer Laurie Murdoch said Gordon left the army shortly before his trip to Blenheim.

He joined at the age of 17 but it had not lived up to his expectations, she said.

‘‘There were a lot of rules and restrictions in the army and this was his first taste of freedom,’’ Murdoch said.

He was on his way home to his family in Blenheim, Murdoch said.

He had completed the theory part of the motorcycle licence, but not the practical part, Murdoch said. He had no previous convictions.

Judge Tony Zohrab said the charges were too serious for a discharge without conviction.

‘‘This is top-end offending. This is as bad as it gets for dangerous driving.

‘‘It’s one thing if you want to kill yourself but it’s another thing exposing others to this behaviour, the public and the police. If I just impose community work today it might send out the message to others that it’s OK to drive this way.’’

Judge Zohrab remanded Gordon on bail to December 4.