3:00pm Friday 19th March 2010
By Naomi Loomes
A wreckless motorcyclist was captured after pulling wheelies in front of an unmarked police bike.
James Stoddard overtook the unmarked police vehicle before carrying out a string of dangerous high speed stunts on his Yamaha YZF-R1.
The 48-year-old even showed off a manoeuvre known as a ‘power slide’ in which the rider brings the bike up on to its back wheel and slides across the carriageway on the A24 near Horsham on September 6 last year.
As he passed a speed camera at Buckbarn, south of Horsham, a device on his high-powered bike automatically flipped up his number plate so that it could not be read by the camera.
But Brighton Crown Court was told the police bike he had overtaken was fitted with another camera which was able to identify Stoddard as well as provide evidence of the dangerous riding.
Yesterday Stoddard was jailed for three months banned from driving for two years and had his bike confiscated.
Inspector Marc Clothier of Sussex Police's Road Policing Unit Operations team said: “Motorcyclists represent a small proportion of overall road users, but account for a very high proportion of fatal and serious injury road traffic crashes.
"We fully accept that the vast majority of motorcyclists are law abiding and careful riders and we continue to work with the biking community to promote safe riding. However, where any motorist deliberately and intentionally puts themselves and other road users at danger, they can expect to be dealt with robustly, as these motorcyclists have discovered.
"The use of unmarked motorcycles fitted with video equipment allows us to target those who present the greatest risk to others, and allow the law abiding bikers to continue to enjoy the roads of Sussex.”
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