VIDEO: Banned UK biker gets 15 months behind bars

23-mile Police chase ends in custodial sentence for disqualified biker

Posted: 13 August 2008
by Visordown News

Police footage of O'Donovan legging it from the camera car

A DISQUALIFIED motorcyclist has been jailed for 15 months after he raced Police in excess of 130mph.

Christopher O'Donovan sped away from officers as they tried to get him to pull over after his number plate registered on the car's recognition device.

The 44-year-old then led Police and the force's helicopter on a 23-mile chase before he was cornered.

Rosie Walsh, prosecuting, told Swindon crown court how the chase started when an officer in an unmarked car spotted the bike on the A361 near Devizes.

The court was shown a section of the video footage recorded by the police car where the bike overtook on hatchings at more than 100mph.

The chase came to an end when the O'Donovan got off the machine outside a block of flats and ran inside. When Officers knocked at the door he answered in a T shirt and shorts and told the police he had been asleep, but on searching the flat they found warm, sweaty motorcycle leathers in a bedside cabinet. He pleaded guilty on the morning of the trial.

Jailing him Judge Douglas Field said: "This was a prolonged episode of very dangerous driving at speeds of up to 130mph, excessive speeds in built up areas and dangerous overtaking.

"It is clear to me that you were determined not to be apprehended because you knew that you were driving while disqualified."

As well as jailing O'Donovan the Judge banned him from the road for three years and ordered he take an extended test before he gets his licence back.


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Road Pirate

How the fuck is this worthy of a custodial sentence?

Kiddy diddlers get less than this!

Yours,

The Daily Mail.


Posted: 12/08/2008 at 20:17


OdannyBoy

'Surely some mistake, officer? It couldn't have been me, I've been asleep'.

Nice excuse. I wonder what other excuses were dreamt up, then rejected, by Mr. O'Donovan when he was hammering along residential streets at 3-figure speeds with the Bear on his tail. The less uninsured/disqualified drivers I share the road with, the better.


Posted: 12/08/2008 at 21:57


R1 loon
OdannyBoy wrote (see)

'Surely some mistake, officer? It couldn't have been me, I've been asleep'.

Nice excuse. I wonder what other excuses were dreamt up, then rejected, by Mr. O'Donovan when he was hammering along residential streets at 3-figure speeds with the Bear on his tail. The less uninsured/disqualified drivers I share the road with, the better.


+1

Posted: 12/08/2008 at 21:59


mickymellon
+2 good effort by the man (y)

Posted: 12/08/2008 at 22:15


untruth
+1 brain cells for the culprit, who clearly had none

Posted: 12/08/2008 at 22:23


TimskiT

Watched the video, good effort IMO he wasn't riding dangerously! Plod making a point, fair enough for them to chase people in pursuits and matching those speeds in such pursuits. Didn't a motorcyclist lose his life recently as a result?

Smoke and mirrors!


Posted: 13/08/2008 at 00:05


TimskiT
Click here

Posted: 13/08/2008 at 01:17


TimskiT
What pisses me off here is that the police now have the knowledge of whether a vehicle is stolen, registered, MOT'd, taxed, insured etc. So if they PNC and the car/bike comes up as not stolen and at least registered why do they have to chase? In this case 17 cars and a chopper for them to roll up to the guys house and nick him whilst he's copping Zzzzzz's. FFS, bunch of cunts!!!

Posted: 13/08/2008 at 01:20


deauville

It now looks like the anglesea show could be stopped by the police.How come they let the bulldog go ahead when it was there the trouble was ?

Next year we'll have no shows to go to.


Posted: 13/08/2008 at 03:08


Jace

It's interesting how the 'mainstream media' approached this story.

No mention of the fact he was disqualified and was actively attempting to avoid arrest. They gave the impression this was just your average motorcyclist just out for a day's blast who happened to pass plod and got tugged.

This unfortunately promotes the myth that all motorcyclists blast around at 130 all the time, and we should all be banned!

This also dispells the myth that Police wont pursue motorcyclists because of Health & Safety!


Posted: 13/08/2008 at 13:24


cbr600f
Jace wrote (see)

It's interesting how the 'mainstream media' approached this story.

No mention of the fact he was disqualified and was actively attempting to avoid arrest. They gave the impression this was just your average motorcyclist just out for a day's blast who happened to pass plod and got tugged.

This unfortunately promotes the myth that all motorcyclists blast around at 130 all the time, and we should all be banned!

This also dispells the myth that Police wont pursue motorcyclists because of Health & Safety!


 +1

Posted: 13/08/2008 at 13:32


clagg
Good, IMO. Another twat successfully prosecuted who give all other law abiding riders a very bad name. The less that people like Brunsom can chuck at us the better.

Posted: 13/08/2008 at 17:52


tripod_dave

The guy was obviously a complete twat but; how is that worth 15months and a criminal record when the binty that killed a biker by reaching down for a hankey and swereved into his path got a 6month ban and £300 fine?

It seems that there is a complete lack of proportion in our justice system you get sod all for GBH but shed loads for theft, 2/3 of FA for killing people through dangerous driving but jail for speeding.

BTW: 133 trying to get away from a Police car? What was that all about? If you are going to do a runner, do a runner don't fuck about. 


Posted: 14/08/2008 at 06:50


Bazzzr
Seems that the video footage is loaded with inconsistencies, at no time does it look like he is doing 130+ also if he was riding his bike in an attempt to lose the plod then how come the un marked car kept pace with him so easily? The whole thing srceams of a set up

Posted: 19/08/2008 at 12:06


GSXR_750_Hot
The guy deserved to be nicked. 1) for trying to get away from plod and 2) for being disqualified and still riding and 3) like tripod_dave said, if you're going to do it, do it properly! You're on a bike for god's sake, how can any car keep up with you? Tit!

Posted: 19/08/2008 at 15:43


gedge
Bazzzr wrote (see)
Seems that the video footage is loaded with inconsistencies, at no time does it look like he is doing 130+ also if he was riding his bike in an attempt to lose the plod then how come the un marked car kept pace with him so easily? The whole thing srceams of a set up


The video is only 2 minutes long ...hardly the full 23 miles is it??? perhaps the 130 bit was on a dual carriageway??

As for the sentence..I think the phrase by the recorder was 'had multiple convictions for dangerous driving'..I should think that would explain the 18 months...good riddance to bad rubbish


Posted: 19/08/2008 at 16:45


no fear my chuff !!
sorry to be flippant but 130mph on a grey damp day think hm plant should get shot of haslam next season n meet this guy at the gates lol

Posted: 19/08/2008 at 21:30


Pringle

Prick. 


Posted: 19/08/2008 at 23:32


no fear my chuff !!
me or him lol

Posted: 20/08/2008 at 01:13


abjectblitz

The speed looks much slower than than what the GPS is indicating? the video been slowed down or something?

Some more vids on youtube with more scenes.. looks like the bloke would have got away if it were not for the helicopter/them getting his plate details..

Think it was a good effort, fairly calm and in control without anything crazy like in other peoples attempts...  acceleration seemes a bit poor, should get a zx12r next time


Posted: 20/08/2008 at 01:27


PCthug_UK
abjectblitz wrote (see)

The speed looks much slower than than what the GPS is indicating? the video been slowed down or something?

Some more vids on youtube with more scenes.. looks like the bloke would have got away if it were not for the helicopter/them getting his plate details..

Think it was a good effort, fairly calm and in control without anything crazy like in other peoples attempts...  acceleration seemes a bit poor, should get a zx12r next time


I have been on a 135mph chase, and when you watch it back, it does look much slower than when your actually in it.

In fact, have a look at track days videos, they seem flat out at the time. Watch them later on the TV, and it looks really slow (or is that just mine?).

I think the GPS here must be stuck at the highest speed, as it shows 104 at that first bend (when the car goes in front of the police car), and there is no way he took that bend at 104.


Posted: 20/08/2008 at 05:44


mr bass man
Good effort. 

Posted: 20/08/2008 at 16:43


TimskiT

17 cars and a chopper? When they had his number plate etc. Fuck...the police are losing it big time in this country, like the guy on ITV news tonight who pointed out to a cop van reversing down a one-way street to go into a chippy, told him to fuck off and that they were on police business!

He then took a photo of the copper in the chippy who ran out and arrested him for assault (with a camera), wrestled him to the ground and applied the cuffs, he was then taken to the cop shop and locked up for five hours. Avon and Somerset Cuntstabulary have issued him with an official appology and an offer of 1500 pounds compensation.

What a bunch of fucking wankers.

Quite happy to fuck around catching people speeding and breaking the law themselves, when I was working in Reading and staying at a B&B the cops would always park up on double yellows over the road from the kebab shop to get their scran. 

No respect for the law these days, they can kiss my fucking arse!!! By the way, I do 130+ on A-roads on my fucking YZF every time I take it out, 130 croutons bye the way so record that you fucking knob jockies!


Posted: 21/08/2008 at 03:03


The-Doctor

Not insured, as he's disqualified...

 Hits your Mrs on School Run, Kills your children... He obviously drives like a twat consistently...

 I cannot believe people can defend him.. The actual offence.. well...I am sure a lot of us are capable of!.. If it was me they would be seeing more than 130!


Posted: 21/08/2008 at 10:49


Dirty Uncle
Surely the sensible thing to do would have been NOT to give chase and simply arrest him later? Radio a local plod near where he lives to go and wait for him to turn up.

This wanker could have easily killed someone or himself. I don't get the point of giving chase.

Posted: 26/04/2013 at 20:02

Talkback: VIDEO: Banned UK biker gets 15 months behind bars