A motorcyclist who ran a stop sign and nearly knocked over a Policeman was handed fines totalling $2,350 by a Magistrate.

Eric DeSilva, 22, of Elliott Street, Pembroke, got into trouble at the junction of King and Church Streets in Hamilton around 3.15 p.m on June 13.

According to prosecutor Robert Welling, Police officers were patrolling the area, and tried to stop DeSilva for disobeying a traffic sign.

"He failed to stop and continued towards the officer, causing him to jump out of the way to stop him being hit by the bike," explained Mr. Welling.

The Police officer managed to note DeSilva's description and number plate and called the information in to the Police operations centre.

DeSilva was eventually stopped just east of Tee Street in Devonshire, at which point it was discovered he had no valid driving licence, and the bike was unlicensed and had no third party insurance.

He pleaded guilty to those offences at Magistrates' Court along with dangerous driving and failing to stop at the request of the Police.

According to Mr. Welling, DeSilva told the officers who stopped him: "Well you may as well lock me up forever because I'm not going to be able to pay these."

Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner ticked off DeSilva, a cook at the Fish Hut restaurant, for failing to come to court on July 8 over the matter.

"You never had any intention to pay these tickets," he chided.

But DeSilva promised he would, and said he was looking for a second job.

Mr. Warner told him he has until September 5 to pay up. DeSilva could face a jail term if the fines go unpaid.