Man ordered to pay more than £1,500 for anti-social motorbike offences

Jack Baker was picked up by the noise-activated camera on the seafront in Great Yarmouth pulling a wheelie and revving his motorbike just after 10pm on July 19 last year.

In a prosecution brought by Great Yarmouth Borough Council, Baker, of Brasenose Avenue, appeared at the town's magistrates' court on February 5 where he admitted three offences under the borough's vehicle-related Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO).

The charges were that he rapidly accelerated, performed a wheelie and revved the bike. All offences under Great Yarmouth's PSPO which was introduced in a bid to reduce anti-social driving on the seafront.

The court, which was shown a video of the offences taking place, was told officers had attempted to deal with the matter via a fixed penalty notice (FPN) to avoid court time and costs for council tax payers but that Baker had ignored the correspondence.

Admitting the offences, Baker told the court it was him on the motorbike but that it was 'not a proper wheelie' and that it was not intentional. He said he was just quick on the throttle.

He added he knew about the offences but didn't receive the FPN because he was not at the address due to other court matters and, in hindsight, wished he had contacted the council to try to negotiate a settlement.

Magistrates fined Baker £100 for the three offences and imposed a £40 victim surcharge. He was also ordered to pay £135 investigation costs and £1,305 legal costs.

A spokesperson for Great Yarmouth Borough Council said: ''The vast majority of people drive and ride responsibility, but there is small minority of people who continue to cause a nuisance on the seafront and disturb residents with their anti-social behaviour.

''The recently installed noise-activated camera is an excellent addition as the council, and the police, continue to work hard to improve the quality of life for people affected by anti-social behaviour.

''Where appropriate we will always seek to prosecute those who cause such a nuisance for the community.''

The noise-activated camera was installed last year following a public consultation. It was introduced as part of programme of new CCTV cameras in the town paid for via a £149,000 grant to Great Yarmouth Borough Council and Norfolk Police from the Government's Safer Streets Fund and was allocated by the county's Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC). The money was then match-funded by the council.

Great Yarmouth Borough Council is also part of a multi-agency approach to tackling motorists who cause disruption and nuisance at car meets. Called Operation Octane, the partnership is led by Norfolk Police and members include Norfolk County Council, district councils and Highways England.

In the autumn, the council was highly commended for the innovative camera in the annual Noise Abatement Society awards.