The demon driver who clocked up the highest speed ever recorded on Bermuda's roads was jailed for a month yesterday.

Maurice Hansey, imprisoned for 28 days, was also hit with a maximum $500 fine and five-year ban from driving cars -- after reaching an astonishing 132 kph.

The speed is equivalent to 82.5 mph -- 12.5 mph over the limit on Britain's motorways and 27.5 mph over the limit on most US highways.

But Hansey managed to push his car's needle right to the end of the speedometer when he tore down North Shore Road in Smith's Parish on October 6.

And his trial heard yesterday that he pleaded for mercy from the arresting officer, even though he was nearly four times over Bermuda's 35 kph speed limit.

Hansey, 31, told the officer: "Give me a break. I'll paint your house for five years.'' P.c. Jerome Simons, who first spotted the car near Penhurst Park, told the court his radar gun had locked onto Hansey's car for three seconds at around 2 a.m.

He said he chased Hansey all the way through Flatts Village to Town Hill Road before finally booking him.

And the defendant, from Wellington Back Road in St. George's, told him he was only driving so fast to blow the cobwebs off his car.

P.c. Simons said: "The defendant's response was that the car had been laid up for a long time.

"He said: `I was just blowing out the car.' He also replied: `Give me a break. I'll paint your house for five years. Come on neighbour.' '' Hansey, representing himself, declined to cross-examine the Policeman.

And when asked if he had any witnesses, he said: "Yeah. But I didn't feel like bringing him out of his job.'' He also declined to give evidence in his own defence, despite pleading not guilty.

Magistrate Edward King, finding Hansey guilty, said no driver had ever been tried for a speed of 132 kph in Bermuda.

He said: "I remember the case of a Policeman, several years ago, for 104 kph.

And I remember another case for 120 kph but that failed.'' Turning to the defendant, Mr. King added: "Such a speed was dangerous, not only to you but to other road users and to property along the highway -- even though the time was 2 a.m. on a Tuesday.

"Punishment for such a high speed must be high. They say the penalty must fit the crime unless there are very mitigating circumstances.

"And blowing out the radiator or the carburettor isn't one of those.'' Hansey protested against his jail term, saying: "I have livestock. How am I going to feed them?'' Several Police officers were in the public gallery to watch the 80-minute trial.

But one other charge against Hansey, for not insuring his car, was dismissed when he produced valid documents.