Andrew Stevens, 30, was so thrilled after his girlfriend accepted his proposal 
to marriage that he hit 160mph speed at his 1.000 cc Yamaha at a road where he was allowed to drive only at 50mph. Stevens, a journalist by profession, admitted that he committed a foolish mistake. He writes for website Visordown.
But he claimed to be speeding because he was 'euphoric' at the time as he had just proposed to his girlfriend and she had accepted. He was followed by a police officer on an unmarked bike along Seven Mile Lane, near Tonbridge, in Kent, where he twice reached speeds above 100mph before peaking at 160mph when he drove onto a dual carriageway.
Stevens also performed a wheelie as he overtook a lorry at about 50mph and again as he accelerated towards 100mph. He fought back tears as he told Sevenoaks Magistrates' Court: 'I made a stupid mistake. This was going to be the last year I ever had a bike like that. It’s a shame it’s ended this way. You will never see me again.'
Prosecutor James Nichols said: 'The defendant took off at 128mph in the 50mph (zone). The road was clear, he slowed down to just below 100mph when he came to the brow of the hill. He got slowed up in traffic. He shot off towards the Hop Farm towards Paddock Wood and got up to a speed of 160mph.'
The court heard that when Stevens was pulled over by PC Townsend, from Kent Police Tactical Operations Group, on June 27, he told the officer: “I am such an idiot. I am a journalist. I was doing a test drive. I can't believe I did that.'
However, during the hearing on October 26 David Barton, defending, tried to blame the officer for not pulling Stevens over sooner. He said: “He stayed behind him for about two-and-a-half minutes during which time the very high speed was reached. One will never know why the officer simply did not stop him for speeding. He could have done.'
He added Stevens was so happy because his girlfriend had agreed to marry him
and set their wedding for 2014. Kent Police said the department PC Townsend works for obtain 'virtually a 100 per cent conviction rate' such is the quality of evidence.
Acting Head of Roads Policing, Chief Inspector Paul Sellwood added: 'I would like to reassure all those that use the roads responsibly that our unmarked bikes and cars are there for their safety, and they have nothing to fear from them.
'If caught committing an offence you risk a fine, driving ban and potentially losing your job or a sentence of imprisonment. More than this, think about the consequences to yourself and your family of being involved in a serious collision. You could kill or maim yourself or someone else. All too often we see the devastating effects of careless and dangerous driving or riding on those involved and their families. This is why, with our road safety partners, we are determined to make our roads as safe as possible.'
to marriage that he hit 160mph speed at his 1.000 cc Yamaha at a road where he was allowed to drive only at 50mph. Stevens, a journalist by profession, admitted that he committed a foolish mistake. He writes for website Visordown.
But he claimed to be speeding because he was 'euphoric' at the time as he had just proposed to his girlfriend and she had accepted. He was followed by a police officer on an unmarked bike along Seven Mile Lane, near Tonbridge, in Kent, where he twice reached speeds above 100mph before peaking at 160mph when he drove onto a dual carriageway.
Stevens also performed a wheelie as he overtook a lorry at about 50mph and again as he accelerated towards 100mph. He fought back tears as he told Sevenoaks Magistrates' Court: 'I made a stupid mistake. This was going to be the last year I ever had a bike like that. It’s a shame it’s ended this way. You will never see me again.'
Prosecutor James Nichols said: 'The defendant took off at 128mph in the 50mph (zone). The road was clear, he slowed down to just below 100mph when he came to the brow of the hill. He got slowed up in traffic. He shot off towards the Hop Farm towards Paddock Wood and got up to a speed of 160mph.'
The court heard that when Stevens was pulled over by PC Townsend, from Kent Police Tactical Operations Group, on June 27, he told the officer: “I am such an idiot. I am a journalist. I was doing a test drive. I can't believe I did that.'
However, during the hearing on October 26 David Barton, defending, tried to blame the officer for not pulling Stevens over sooner. He said: “He stayed behind him for about two-and-a-half minutes during which time the very high speed was reached. One will never know why the officer simply did not stop him for speeding. He could have done.'
He added Stevens was so happy because his girlfriend had agreed to marry him
and set their wedding for 2014. Kent Police said the department PC Townsend works for obtain 'virtually a 100 per cent conviction rate' such is the quality of evidence.
Acting Head of Roads Policing, Chief Inspector Paul Sellwood added: 'I would like to reassure all those that use the roads responsibly that our unmarked bikes and cars are there for their safety, and they have nothing to fear from them.
'If caught committing an offence you risk a fine, driving ban and potentially losing your job or a sentence of imprisonment. More than this, think about the consequences to yourself and your family of being involved in a serious collision. You could kill or maim yourself or someone else. All too often we see the devastating effects of careless and dangerous driving or riding on those involved and their families. This is why, with our road safety partners, we are determined to make our roads as safe as possible.'
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