A 20-year-old motorcyclist who led police on a high-speed pursuit through Chippenham has been given a suspended prison sentence and banned from driving for a year.
Ellis Filkins, of Wick Lane, Lacock, appeared at Swindon Magistrates Court on 29th October, where he pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and using a vehicle without insurance.
The court heard that on the evening of 7th July, Filkins was riding an Aprilia motorcycle with no number plate along the A350 when he passed a marked Roads Policing Unit vehicle.
When officers attempted to stop him, he accelerated away at high speed, reaching more than 120mph during the pursuit. Police were forced to abandon the chase when Filkins became lost to sight.
Enquiries carried out afterwards led officers to identify and arrest him the following day. The motorcycle was also seized for further investigation.
During a police interview, Filkins admitted being the rider and acknowledged making off from officers.
PC Tom Richardson, from Wiltshire Police’s Roads Policing Unit, said: “This was some of the most dangerous riding I have ever seen – Filkins was prepared to put himself and other road users at great risk of harm by travelling at more than three times the speed limit.
“This type of behaviour is totally unacceptable and will not be tolerated on our county’s roads.”
Filkins was sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for 12 months, and disqualified from driving for 12 months. He was also ordered to pay a £154 victim surcharge and £85 in costs.
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