WATCH: ‘Dangerous and appalling’ 144mph A19 racers slapped three-year ban

BANNED: Speeding at 144mph

Two men snapped driving at 144mph on the A19 have been handed a three-year driving ban and a four-month suspended jail term.

Daniel Scott Richardson, 21, from Batley, and James Burrows, 26, from Leeds, were caught by police racing a Ford Focus RS and Mitsubishi Lancer Evo on the North Yorkshire road in November.

Both men pleaded guilty to dangerous driving on January 3, before being sentenced at Northallerton Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.

Alongside the driving ban and suspended prison sentence, they were ordered to undertake 300hours of unpaid work, and pay a £60 victim surcharge and £85 fine.

Dave Brown, Mobile Safety Camera Manager at North Yorkshire Police, said: “Today’s sentence sends a clear message as to how seriously the criminal justice system takes such appalling driving.

“The evidence captured by the safety camera shows both vehicles travelling in close proximity at extremely high speed.

“Any error, no matter how minor, could have been catastrophic for the two drivers, their passengers and other road users.

“The safety camera operator at the time was utterly astounded by the speed of the vehicles.

“Members of the public should be allowed to use the roads in safety and should not be put at risk by other, irresponsible and dangerous drivers.

“I hope our communities can see the value of the safety camera vans when cases such as these are detected and prosecuted.

“Our mobile safety cameras are there to help keep the roads safe for all road users and we urge motorists to bear this in mind, drive at appropriate speeds and within the speed limit and do not, under any circumstances use the roads as a racetrack.”