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Bike rider banned until 2025

A 21-year-old man who led police on a high-speed chase through Hamilton was yesterday banned from the roads until 2025.

Police chased Juan Garcia’s motorbike after he made a U-turn and sped away to avoid a roadside breath test checkpoint on Crow Lane, Pembroke, Magistrates’ Court heard.

Officers followed him as he raced along Reid Street and Court Street and Garcia jumped a red light at the junction of Court Street and Church Street.

Garcia’s bike later slid out when he tried to turn on to Happy Valley Road and he was arrested.

He told police: “I had a few drinks. I am off the road.”

Garcia pleaded guilty to drink-driving, driving while disqualified, dangerous driving and failing to stop for police.

Cindy Clarke, for the prosecution, said that Garcia sped through “a high volume of traffic and a large number of pedestrians” on Court Street.

She added that he overtook vehicles at high speeds on North Street and Parsons Road before he turned on to Montpelier Road and rode against the flow of traffic.

A breath test at Hamilton Police Station showed that Garcia had 166.3 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood. The legal limit in 80mg/100ml.

The incident took place on December 14 last year.

Senior magistrate Juan Wolffe heard that Garcia, from Southampton, was banned from the roads for drink-driving until October 16 this year.

He fined Garcia $4,200 and ordered him to pay in full by March 15.

Mr Wolffe also banned him from the roads for 4½ years, to start at the end of his current ban.