Driver who sped away as Police pursued is fined and banned
By Nadia Arandjelovic
A Jamaican national was banned from driving for two years after leading Police on a high-speed chase through Pembroke.
Ricardo Graham, 25, of Hill Crescent in Pembroke, admitted in Magistrates' Court on Wednesday to driving in a dangerous manner and without third party insurance.
He pleaded not guilty to a further charge of possessing cannabis within 100 yards of Admiralty House Park, an increased penalty zone.
According to Crown counsel Maria Sofianos, Police saw Graham disobey a stop light at Marsh Folly Road on September 24.
He then refused to stop his cycle, even after Police activated their emergency sirens in an effort to catch up to him.
During the incident, Graham allegedly looked back at Police following behind him, and then accelerated his cycle. He was followed over Langton Hill where he overtook a car on the right hand corner, forcing the vehicle's driver to pull over to avoid a crash.
Graham continued over North Shore Road at speeds of 100 kph and continued to overtake vehicles on blind corners, the court heard. He eventually turned onto St. John's Hill in Pembroke where he lost control of his cycle and fell to the ground.
Graham was fined $400 and banned from driving all vehicles for 24 months, for dangerous driving. He also received ten demerit points. He was fined $1000 for having no third party insurance and warned he could face three months in prison in default. Graham was ordered to return to court on December 9, when he will be tried on the charge of cannabis possession.
