A YOUNG Maryport man who was riding a motorcycle illegally panicked and sped away from a pursuing police officer.

The dangerous motorbike riding of 20-year-old Mason Petre, who had no valid driving licence and no insurance for the bike, was filmed by a police patrol car dashcam as he sped along the A596 near Flimby.

In his futile effort to escape, Petre rode at 60mph through area’s with a 40mph limit and he travelled at speed into oncoming traffic on the wrong side of the road, Calrisle Crown Court heard.

The pursuit ended only after Petre lost control of the motorbike, crashing and being flung to the ground.

In court, Petre, of Windermere Road, Maryport, pleaded guilty to dangerous riding, having no insurance, and riding his motorcycle when he had no valid driving licence.

Prosecutor Gerard Rogerson outlined how, at 11.20am on April 27, a police patrol officer spotted the defendant riding north towards Flimby on the A596 and then stopping at a temporary red traffic light.

When the officer took a closer look, Petre rode through the red traffic light and headed off towards Workington. Activating his blue lights and siren, the patrol officer began the pursuit and at one point, as he tried to catch up, his car reached 104mph.

There was no suggestion, said Mr Rogerson, that Petre reached anything like that speed, though he did ride at 60mph through 40mph zones.

“When the officer caught up with the motorbike so that it was ahead of him, the rider began to deliberately drive on the wrong side of the road, deliberately entering the oncoming carriageway and forcing oncoming vehicles to take evasive action."

As the defendant approached Siddick, he braked hard and turned sharply right on to Shoreside Road, cutting across an approaching light goods vehicle and almost colliding with a garage.

A short distance along the road, the rider lost control and fell off the motorbike, rolling along the ground before jumping to his feet and running from the scene.

Police caught up with him half an hour later, noticing blood on his trousers and cuts on his hands. His clothes were muddy and he had lost his shoes.

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Sean Harkin, defending, accepted that the defendant was responsible for “a bad piece of driving.”

The lawyer said: “He had no licence, and no insurance and he was transporting the bike a short distance from his grandmother’s house. He panicked.”

Mr Harkin said the greatest danger Petre posed was to himself. “It’s a wonder he wasn’t more badly hurt,” said Mr Harkin, adding. “He bitterly regrets his actions and apologises.”

Judge Nicholas Barker asked: “What business you had owning a bike you could not lawfully ride I have no idea. You were also on a community order for a being in possession of a blade offence.”

The judge said Petre knew he would be in trouble because he had no licence, no insurance and he was on the order, which had two months to run. “It was an appalling piece of driving,” said the judge.

But given the defendant’s mental health problems, and his struggles with drug use, Judge Barker said Petrie was a candidate for rehabilitation.  The judge imposed a 12-month jail term, suspended for two years.

The sentence includes 20 days of rehabilitation activity and 120 hours of unpaid work – activity which will help impose structure on the life of the defendant, who has never had a full-time job, said the judge.

Petre was also disqualified from driving for two years and will have to pass an extended test before he can apply for his licence.

Referring to a comment from the defence lawyer, Judge Barker told Petre he was at a crossroads in his life and could either change his ways or continue living a life of crime and face the consequences.

“It’s a pretty simple choice,” added the judge. As he left the dock, Petre thanked the judge.

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