A motorbike rider from Wisbech caught speeding at more than 140mph on A47 has today been disqualified from driving.

Simon Hackett, 45, was riding his Honda CBR 1000 motorbike at 142mph on the A47 - which has a 70mph limit - at Terrington St John, near King’s Lynn.

Norwich Magistrates’ Court heard Hackett had been on his way back from Hunstanton when, for about 30 seconds, he decided to “open the bike up to see what it could do”.

He was caught speeding by a police officer using a hand held laser device on August 21 this year.

The defendant, who admitted the offence at an earlier hearing, appeared at court today for his sentencing hearing wearing a grey suit.

Hackett, of Wisbech, , was disqualified for 60 days, fined £250, ordered to pay £85 costs and a £30 victim surcharge.

Michael Cole, mitigating for Hackett, said the incident, a momentary blip which he described as a “burst of youthful joie de vivre on a sunny summer’s day” had “concentrated his mind”.

He suggested that to disqualify Hackett, a self employed carpenter, would cause him exceptional hardship as a result of the loss of employment and the impact it would have on his partner.

But Howard Gill, chairman of the bench, said the speed Hackett was doing meant there was no alternative but to disqualify him.