Neil Purves, a hairdresser from Scotland was able to reach the highest speed ever recorded on Scottish roads, clocking up 166mph, but will now spend nine months in jail for his reckless accomplishment.
Police were alerted to his high speed when they heard a ‘high pitched’ engine noise approaching them, and then pursued him. An officer who had 28 years of patrolling the highways, said that he was shocked to see the excessive speeds that Purves was travelling at.
Alastair Learmouth, for the prosecution, told the Peebles Sheriff Court that 166mph is thought to be the fastest speed ever recorded on a Scotland public road.
Purves did not deny that he was speeding, and according to his lawyer, Graham Walker, is simply a reasonable young man who is remorseful of his actions. After being charged with speeding, the Cockburnspath man then sold his bike.
According to Walker, at the time that Purves attempted his high speed travel there were no other vehicles on the Dolphinton road. So the risk to the public was low, although he stated Purves was placing himself in considerable danger.
Sheriff John Horsburgh said that given the high speed, a custodial sentence as appropriate, but he did reduce the jail time from a year to nine months.
