A MAN ‘panicked’ after seeing police and rode an off-road bike along a pavement at speed on one wheel, a court heard.

Ellis Murray, 23, was looking over his shoulder to see where police officers were as he rode the bike ‘aggressively’ on Salterbeck Road in Workington on June 19.

Outlining the case at Workington Magistrates’ Court, prosecutor Pamela Fee said police had been on patrol when they saw the off-road motorbike outside a property. They heard a man shouting ‘quick’, after seeing the police vehicle.

Murray then grabbed the bike, jumped on it and rode off. He drove on the pavement and ‘did a wheelie’, before setting off at speed. An officer was unable to keep up on foot.

Ms Fee said it was fortunate that no pedestrians had been in the area at the time. She said the offences were aggravated by the excessive speed and aggressive driving.

Murray was driving without insurance because the bike was not meant for use on the road, the court was told.

Mike Woolaghan, defending, said there had been an element of aggression in making off from police but it was ‘very short’ and Murray was off the bike when police caught up with him.

Mr Woolaghan said: “You are dealing with a man of previous good character. I don’t know why he panicked when he saw the police vehicle and moved the bike. He wasn’t committing any offence until the police arrived.

“It was a really difficult time in his life. He had been in full time employment. Suddenly, he lost his employment and things deteriorated.

“Thankfully, he has been able to secure new employment. Things are looking much better for him.”

Murray pleaded guilty to driving without due care and attention, driving other than in accordance with a licence and driving without insurance.

Magistrates added six penalty points to the defendant’s driving licence and disqualified him from driving for six months.

Murray, of Middlegate, Great Clifton, Workington, was fined £384 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £154 victim surcharge.