A motorcyclist has admitted riding a bike dangerously while over the drink-drive limit during a police chase in Carlisle.
Lee Irwin, 50, was initially spotted by a police officer in an unmarked vehicle riding a Suzuki GSX 1300 at high speed on Botchergate, heading towards London Road on November 3.
The officer performed a U-turn and followed Irwin as he travelled on to Blackwell Road. Irwin exceeded the speed limit, clipped a kerb and failed to stop when required to do so.
Irwin rode on to narrow Ridgemount Road, off Holmeacres Drive, and was seen to travel at high speeds around a housing estate with 20mph and 30mph zones.
He also rode through a number of red lights before a 3km journey ended as his Suzuki was stopped, using a police stinger, on London Road. As the bike was halted, Irwin suffered serious lower limb injuries.
As he attended Carlisle Magistrates’ Court today, he used a crutch and had a metal cage fitted around his lower right leg.
From the dock he admitted dangerous driving, driving while disqualified, no insurance, fail to stop, driving with excess alcohol and possession of a class A controlled drug.
The court heard he had been banned from driving for four years in 2016, but remained disqualified as he had yet to pass a mandatory extended retest.
Magistrates concluded that Irwin, of Rydal Street, Carlisle, should be sentenced by a judge at the city’s crown court on May 27.
They requested the preparation of a probation pre-sentence report and imposed an interim driving ban.
The exact length of the new disqualification Irwin is to serve will be set by the judge who passes sentence next month. In the meantime Irwin has been granted unconditional bail.
