A MOTORCYLIST with no valid licence sped away from police on residential Carlisle streets at speeds of up to 70mph.

Christopher Mahoney, 39, who later said he panicked when he saw the police car following him, was caught after a short pursuit which ended when the wheels of his Yamaha motorbike locked and his fell off.

At Carlisle’s Rickergate court, he admitted three offences: dangerous driving, failing to stop when required to by a police officer, and riding in a way not authorised by his licence. Prosecutor Andy Travis outlined the facts.

At 11.20pm, on April 8, a police officer was sitting in his unmarked vehicle on Cumwhinton Road, Carlisle, when he saw the defendant riding a scrambler bike on to Edgehill Road, Harraby, the court heard. 

“The defendant looked at the officer before turning and wobbled slightly,” said Mr Travis. Becoming suspicious, the officer followed the motorbike, which quickly accelerated away.

After the officer activated his blue lights, Mahoney increased his speed, at some points reaching 70mph on Edgehill Road, where the speed limit is 30mph.

“There’s a persistent problem with scrambler bikes across the city, and specifically in Harraby,” said the prosecutor.

As he tried to evade capture, the defendant, of The Beeches, Great Corby, rode into Brantwood Avenue, reaching 50mph and he then “swerved erratically” as he reached a set of temporary traffic lights on Pennine Way.

It was at this point that the changed down the gears too quickly and the wheels appeared to lock, causing Mahoney to fall off. Though he tried to get back on the bike, the officer was able to stop him.

When he was interviewed, the defendant accepted that his riding was dangerous and apologised. He said he had panicked, telling the officers: “I just knew you were coming for me.”

He agreed that he did not feel comfortable riding as he had and described his actions as a “stupid mistake.”

Defence lawyer Anthony Wilson accepted that the case was so serious that it would have to be sentenced by a judge at Carlisle Crown Court. Magistrates sent the case there for a hearing on June 27.

In the meantime, the Probation Service will prepare a background report on the defendant, who was told he is now subjected to an interim driving ban. How long this will last will be decided at the sentencing hearing.