Helston biker hit 77mph with a passenger past Longdowns camera

A fixed speed camera on the A394 at Longdowns clocked the same motorcycle 36 times, and on one of those runs there were two people on the bike doing more than twice the limit. The rider has now been sentenced at Truro Crown Court.

What the court heard

On 30 July, Barnaby Bowers-Hall of Helston appeared at Truro Crown Court. He was charged with multiple offences after riding his motorcycle through the fixed speed camera at Longdowns 36 separate times in excess of the 30 mph limit.

On one of those occasions he was recorded travelling at 77 mph. A pillion passenger was on the back of the bike at the time.

The sentence

Barnaby Bowers-Hall was found guilty of dangerous driving, driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence, having no insurance and fraudulent use of a registration mark.

He was sentenced to four months imprisonment, suspended for two years, along with a two month electronically monitored curfew running from 9.30 pm to 7 am. He was disqualified from driving for 12 months. After that ban ends he will stay disqualified until he has passed an extended driving test. A victim surcharge of £154 was also ordered.

The police message

The Devon and Cornwall Police Road Safety Team called the riding unacceptable and said it put the life of the rider at risk as well as other innocent road users.

The force was careful to separate the case from bikers in general. Riding like this is not indicative of the standards of the vast majority of bikers, only a small minority, the team said, adding that it would pursue and bring to justice riders who behave this way. Removing, covering or altering a registration plate will not prevent officers from identifying and prosecuting a rider.

Why a victim surcharge when there is no named victim

When a court passes a sentence it must also order a victim surcharge. There is no requirement for there to be a named victim of the crime. The surcharge is mandatory for all offences regardless of whether a victim exists. Revenue raised from it funds victim services through the Victim and Witness General Fund.