Wheelie-pulling biker’s 100mph spree on A-road
JUDGE BRANDS FINED FATHER ‘STUPID’
A MINDLESS motorcyclist pulled a wheelie and drove at more than 100mph on one of the North East’s busiest roads.
Albert Donald was told he was “stupid” and “drove like an idiot” by a judge as she sentenced him for careless driving on the A19 near Killingworth.
The 47-year-old escaped with a fine and seven penalty points after he admitted the charge at Newcastle Crown Court.
Prosecutor Neil Pallister said Donald, of Broxburn Close, Wallsend, was spotted by a police officer on his Suzuki motorbike at around 1.40am travelling south on a slip road at Killingworth to join the A19.
He said: “As he joined from the slip, the bike accelerated quickly and the officer heard the engine rev, which caused the front wheel to lift momentarily from the road surface.
“As the front wheel regained contact with the road, the engine revved again and the front wheel left the surface again. This time it travelled 30ft before it made contact with the road surface.”
As a result, the officer began to follow Donald but couldn’t keep up until he met him at traffic lights 2,500m further down the road.
Mr Pallister added: “The speed limit is 70mph and the defendant sped off in excess of 100mph.” Donald was arrested and admitted in interview he had been “stupid”.
He was initially charged with dangerous driving but he pleaded not guilty and the prosecution accepted a guilty plea to the lesser charge.
Because the offence of careless driving carries a maximum penalty of a fine, Judge Amanda Rippon said: “There’s not much I can do other than shout at him and bark at him for driving like an idiot on a public road.”
The judge added: “This was stupid driving – stupid.
“You have children; what on earth do you think you were doing driving like that when you have children?
“What if you crashed? I understand the pressures on you with daily life but behaving like that isn’t how you want to set an example to your children.”
Stuart Graham, mitigating, said financial pressures had got on top of Donald since he lost his job as a cleaner before Christmas.
He said: “There will be big consequences if he loses his licence as he’s got four children and another one on the way.”
Donald was fined £250 and given seven penalty points.