A hellraising biker who thought he had evaded police by performing celebratory wheelies was ultimately undone by a police drone and his own dog, leading to a 21-month prison sentence.
The Reckless Chase on the A548
On May 16, Anthony Mitchell, 33, of Prestatyn, engaged in a spell of dangerous driving on the A548 at Mostyn, North Wales. As prosecutor Laura Knightly told Mold Crown Court, traffic officers had been waiting for him. Mitchell managed to avoid three separate stinger devices laid in the road to burst his tyres.
Drone footage played to the court showed his outrageous behaviour. When he saw one stinger next to a police car, he turned around. Confronted with another, he drove onto the pavement to circumvent it. Throughout the pursuit, he was seen performing ‘wheelies’ and riding with only one hand on the handlebars.
The Unexpected Downfall
Unbeknownst to Mitchell, his entire performance was being monitored from above by a police drone operated by North Wales Police. After his escape, he headed to the caravan park in Prestatyn where he lived.
His luck ran out upon returning home when he was badly bitten and injured by his own mastiff-type dog, suffering serious hand injuries. The following day, his partner spoke to police who arrived at his address and informed them he wished to hand himself in. Officers found his BMW motorbike and Velcro tabs used to attach a number plate.
A Pattern of Dangerous Behaviour
The court heard that this was not an isolated incident. In the preceding weeks, Mitchell had been caught on speed cameras in the same area travelling at 107mph and 118mph – nearly three times the 40mph speed limit. He had removed his number plates in the hope of getting away with it.
Defending, Charlotte Kenny said Mitchell believed he had Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder which could lead to ‘thrill-seeking’ behaviour. She stated he was ‘extremely sorry’ and appreciated his actions were dangerous to the community.
The Judge's Condemnation and Sentence
Yesterday, Judge Rhys Rowlands jailed Mitchell for 21 months and imposed a 46-month driving ban with an extended test. A deprivation order was made for the motorbike.
Condemning his actions, Judge Rowlands described the A548 as a ‘well-known accident blackspot’ and accused Mitchell of a ‘brazen disregard’ for speed limits. He stated the biker was a ‘serious accident waiting to happen’ and that one shudders to think what would have happened if a child had run out in front of him. The judge did note that the dog bite injuries would make it difficult for Mitchell to ride a motorbike in the foreseeable future.
