A 19-year-old biker, Harvey Thomas, was captured on dashcam footage reaching speeds of up to 150mph while being pursued over the Prince of Wales Bridge. Thomas was spotted by Roads Policing officer PC Mark Lambert breaking the speed limit on his bike without plates. The incident occurred near junction 17 of the M5 northbound at Bristol.
In the dramatic footage, officers can be seen pursuing Thomas as he sped along the motorway, heading onto the M4 westbound and crossing the Prince of Wales Bridge into Wales before turning back. A rolling roadblock was used to slow down other traffic for a safe detainment on the M4 eastbound, prior to junction 20.
Following Thomas’ court appearance, Inspector Matt Boiles highlighted the danger Thomas posed by engaging in dangerous and reckless driving, regularly travelling at speeds of up to 123mph past fixed camera sites. Thomas was sentenced at Bristol Crown Court for dangerous driving and multiple speeding offences.
As part of his sentence, Thomas received a 10-month prison term, suspended for 18 months, and was ordered to pay costs and a victim surcharge. He will undergo rehabilitation activities, carry out unpaid work, and face an 18-month driving ban with an extended test requirement. Insp Boiles praised the responding officers for their skills and tactics in safely concluding the pursuit.
The investigation was challenging due to Thomas riding without registration plates and wearing unidentifiable clothing. A collaborative effort from officers and staff led to identifying Thomas and the bike, resulting in his conviction. The police released the footage on October 9 as a cautionary tale of dangerous driving behaviour.