A biker sped up to 120mph at Llanidloes because ‘he did not want to get lost’.

A biker on a tour of Wales sped up to 120mph at Llanidloes because ‘he did not want to get lost’, a court had heard.

Blake Bartley travelling on a Yamaha FZS motorcycle said he hit the speed on the A470 Llanidloes by-pass to ‘catch up’ with the person infront of him.

The 30 year-old of Rudman Park, Chippenham, Wiltshire admitted speeding on a 60mph road on June 12 2024, when he appeared at Llandrindod Wells Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

The court was told the speed was recorded by laser at 2.42pm and Bartley had a full clean licence.

Representing himself, Bartley said; “I am sorry, it was a stupid mistake and a very serious one. There was not an excuse other than we were doing a tour of Wales as a party and we had come down to Llanidloes, there was someone in front of me and I did not want to get lost and so I sped up to catch up.”

He said he has five dependants and is the lone bread winner. He said he is a heating engineer and needs to be able to drive.

Chairman of the Magistrates, Stephen Hays said; ”That 120mph on a 60mph road could have ended in disaster for yourself or others, it was a very stupid decision.”

Magistrates fined Bartley £623 and banned him from the roads for 56 days. He will also have to pay £90 court costs and a £249 victim surcharge.

Bartley asked the magistrates to re-consider saying one of his children needs regular hospital appointments and only his mother-in-law drives and she works.

But magistrates advised him he can appeal the sentence at the crown court and could appeal to the magistrates court to consider lifting the ban until the appeal is heard.