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M-way speeder hit 153mph and failed to see police bike
A DRIVER who topped 150mph on the M27 failed to spot the blue flashing lights of a police motorcyclist on his tail.
Matthew Neave was clocked speeding between Junctions 9 and 11 – Segensworth and Fareham.
The officer gave chase and switched on his siren.
But as Neave reached 153mph in his high performance Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, the policeman considered giving up the pursuit as it was becoming too dangerous.
Neave then suddenly cut across two lanes and dropped his speed when he appeared to reach his exit of the motorway.
The officer caught up with him and arrested him in June last year.
Daniel Lawson, prosecuting, said: 'When the police motorcyclist got behind him he turned on his blues and twos, but he pulled away.
'When he reached 150mph the officer was going to give up because it was getting unsafe when suddenly he veered across the motorway, presumably because he had reached his junction.
'We don't know if he pulled over and slowed down because he saw the officer or whether he had just reached his turn-off.'
Neave, 30, of The Brow, Widley, admitted a charge of dangerous driving when he appeared before Judge Graham White at Portsmouth Crown Court.
The judge told Neave he 'could have gone inside for this' but instead banned him from driving for 18 months instead.
Judge White said: 'Driving at such a disgracefully dangerous and reckless speed can cause people to lose their lives.
'You were driving your car at more than twice the speed limit and you continued to do that while you were being followed by a police motorcyclist who had to turn on his blue lights and flashing headlights.
'If you knew he was behind you it was disgraceful. If you didn't know, you should have been paying more attention.'
When interviewed after the incident Neave told police 'he needed to learn his lesson', adding: 'It's down to me. I made a terribly stupid decision which I regret and now I'm going to have to pay for it.'
Neave was ordered to pay 340 costs and will need to take an extended driving test before re-applying for his licence. He was also given a 12-month, 200-hour community service order.
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Saturday 11 February 2012
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