Video: Leeds drivers banned after racing at 144mph

THIS was the moment two drivers hit “utterly astounding” speeds of 144mph as they raced each other on a public road.
By The Newsroom
Published 28th Jan 2014, 16:24 BST
A still from the police camera.A still from the police camera.
A still from the police camera.

James Burrows, 26, of Methley, Leeds, and Daniel Richardson, 21, from Tingley, were filmed on camera by police careering along the A19 in North Yorkshire on November 30.

Burrows, of Burnleys Mews, was in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo tailing the Ford Focus RS driven by Richardson, of Woollen Crescent, near Crathorne at about midday.

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Both men were given four-month jail terms suspended for 18 months, and banned from the roads for three years after pleading guilty to dangerous driving at Northallerton Magistrates’ Court.

A still from the police camera.A still from the police camera.
A still from the police camera.

They were also each ordered to carry out 300 hours of unpaid work and fined £85 and ordered to pay a £60 victim surcharge.

North Yorkshire Police’s Mobile Safety Camera Manager, Dave Brown, said: “Today’s sentence sends a clear message as to how seriously the criminal justice system takes such appalling driving.

“The evidence captured by the safety camera shows both vehicles travelling in close proximity at extremely high speed. Any error, no matter how minor, could have been catastrophic for the two drivers, their passengers and other road users.

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“The safety camera operator at the time, was utterly astounded by the speed of the vehicles.

“Members of the public should be allowed to use the roads in safety and should not be put at risk by other, irresponsible and dangerous drivers. I hope our communities can see the value of the safety camera vans when cases such as these are detected and prosecuted.

“Our mobile safety cameras are there to help keep the roads safe for all road users and we urge motorists to bear this in mind, drive at appropriate speeds and within the speed limit and do not, under any circumstances use the roads as a racetrack.”