A BIKER was fined after he covered his number plate with black clothing in a bid to hide his identity when he realised he had been caught speeding.

Geoffrey Alan Davies, of Plodder Lane, Farnworth, was captured by a police camera van on Sunday, July 2, doing 86mph in a 60mph zone while he was riding his Yamaha R1 motorbike along the B6479 in Selside, Ribblehead.

Realising he had been caught, the 55-year-old pulled over before he passed the van and wrapped the clothing over his registration number in an attempt to prevent the camera recording his details.

But Davies had already been recorded exceeding the speed limit and, following an investigation, he was located by officers from North Yorkshire Police Traffic Bureau.

He initially denied the offence but when he appeared at Bradford Crown Court today he pleaded guilty to speeding and perverting the course of justice.

TC Andy Forth said: "Davies went to great length to evade justice — covering his number plate and disposing of his leathers, in the belief that North Yorkshire Police would not pursue the case.

"If he had faced the facts and held his hands up to the speeding offence, the matter would have been dealt with swiftly and he would of received three points on his licence and faced a £100 fine and the matter would have been over.

"Instead he has had to go through the criminal justice system and appear at Crown Court today, pleading guilty to charges of perverting the course of justice and exceeding the speed limit and received suspended prison sentence.

"North Yorkshire Police take the matter of perverting the course of justice incredibly seriously and will always investigate incidents like these and bring the matter before the courts. To behave in this manner is simply not acceptable."

Davies was handed a nine-month prison sentence, but it was suspended for 12 months.

He was ordered to pay a £200 fine and given three points on his licence. He must also carry out 150 hours of unpaid work.