Fined after fatal motorcycle ‘race’

A CHEF from Buckland Monachorum has been fined £1,000 for driving at more than 100mph in a motorbike 'race' which saw his friend killed when he collided with a van. Andrew James William Lee, from Cross Park, was 'racing' with Mark Harwood along the A386 near Roborough on October 3 last year. Plymouth Crown Court heard the two men were driving like 'complete and utter nutters' before Mark Harwood, 22, from Meavy, collided with a Ford Transit van at the junction of Golf Links Lane, at Roborough Down, and died. Lee, 24, a chef at the Burrator Inn in Dousland, pleaded guilty at the city court to a charge of dangerous driving. He rode along the A386 from Roborough on his 400cc motorbike between 7pm and 7.15pm on October 3. Mr Harwood drove a 600cc Yamaha R6 motorcycle and they were heading towards Yelverton, the court heard. Witnesses who saw the men said they were racing each other and 'undertaking vehicles' — passing them on the inside. Two police officers had to swerve out of the way of the motorcyclists at one stage. Mr Harwood's bike was in collision with the van about 4km from when the first witness saw the men at Roborough. His speed was estimated to be around 100mph where the speed limit is 60mph. Prosecutor Jo Martin said witnesses described the pair as driving like 'complete and utter nutters' and trying to be competitive. Nick Lewin, defending, said: 'He (Lee) lost a good friend that day and he no longer rides his motorbike.' Mr Lewin said it had been a terrible incident in the 'lives of a number of people'. Mr Justice Jack, sentencing, told Lee he and Harwood had been driving 'as fast as they dared'. He said they had had no regard for the safety of others and had ridden at speeds exceeding 100mph. He said: 'What you regarded as a thrill was very highly dangerous. But Harwood hit the side of the van at speed and he was killed. 'It is apparent you were deeply affected by Harwood's death. I understand that you have not ridden your bike since and travel to work as a chef by bus.' Mr Justice Jack told Lee that if he had any doubt that he had not learned his lesson then he would have gone to prison. He fined him £1,000, disqualified him from driving for a year and ordered him to pay £500 in court costs. Mark Harwood's inquest was held in August. The city coroner at the time, Nigel Meadows, recorded a verdict of accidental death.