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EDP24:
A teenager was caught driving at more than twice the speed limit after his friend grinned at a police camera.
Richard Mainprize, 18, thought he had outwitted officers by turning the licence plate on his car around so it could not be traced.
He then sped past the camera in Gayton Road, King's Lynn, doing 78mph in a 30mph residential zone.
But Mainprize reckoned without his friend in the backseat smiling at the camera as they sped past it.
Police tracked the 18-year-old down and Lynn magistrates yesterday gave him a three-month curfew order and banned him from driving for a year.
Magistrate Ron Miller, said: "We have heard many driving cases in this court but this particular one is about as irresponsible as you can get. To drive at more than twice the speed limit is quite frankly insanity. Effectively we have thrown the book at you, and you deserve it.
"Your actions, and your friends, were absolutely unbelievable, stupid, and you're paying the price."
Mainprize, of Atbara Terrace, Lynn, said he lost his job as a van driver because of the incident.
He told the court he had passed his driving test in February last year and had already been handed three points for speeding.
Mainprize and his friends drove past the camera on October 23 last year after the registration plate had been hidden.
Gwen Wallace, prosecuting, said: "The photo by the speed camera showed a person sitting in the vehicle turning round, grinning at the camera.
"Inquiries were made and on October 30 police went to his home address.
"He freely admitted being the driver, he did it knowing the camera site was there.
"He said an unknown friend had removed his licence plate and turned it round so he couldn't be caught by the camera.
"He accepted it was a dangerous speed."
When police asked Mainprize why he had been speeding, the 18-year-old said he "thought it would be funny".
Magistrates fined Mainprize £50 for driving his Ford Fiesta without a registration plate on view.
The 18-year-old represented himself in court.
A teenager was caught driving at more than twice the speed limit after his friend grinned at a police camera.
Richard Mainprize, 18, thought he had outwitted officers by turning the licence plate on his car around so it could not be traced.
He then sped past the camera in Gayton Road, King's Lynn, doing 78mph in a 30mph residential zone.
But Mainprize reckoned without his friend in the backseat smiling at the camera as they sped past it.
Police tracked the 18-year-old down and Lynn magistrates yesterday gave him a three-month curfew order and banned him from driving for a year.
Magistrate Ron Miller, said: "We have heard many driving cases in this court but this particular one is about as irresponsible as you can get. To drive at more than twice the speed limit is quite frankly insanity. Effectively we have thrown the book at you, and you deserve it.
"Your actions, and your friends, were absolutely unbelievable, stupid, and you're paying the price."
Mainprize, of Atbara Terrace, Lynn, said he lost his job as a van driver because of the incident.
He told the court he had passed his driving test in February last year and had already been handed three points for speeding.
Mainprize and his friends drove past the camera on October 23 last year after the registration plate had been hidden.
Gwen Wallace, prosecuting, said: "The photo by the speed camera showed a person sitting in the vehicle turning round, grinning at the camera.
"Inquiries were made and on October 30 police went to his home address.
"He freely admitted being the driver, he did it knowing the camera site was there.
"He said an unknown friend had removed his licence plate and turned it round so he couldn't be caught by the camera.
"He accepted it was a dangerous speed."
When police asked Mainprize why he had been speeding, the 18-year-old said he "thought it would be funny".
Magistrates fined Mainprize £50 for driving his Ford Fiesta without a registration plate on view.
The 18-year-old represented himself in court.
towman said:
Magistrates fined Mainprize £50 for driving his Ford Fiesta without a registration plate on view.
I think that is the most important part of the whole affair.
Long journey to do?
Got to get there in a hurry?
3 points or 50 quid - I know which option I would take.
Leave earlier?
What he admitted let him down. Whilst not saying he was good in what he did, I very much doubt that the speed he did was dangerous, even though he admitted so, looks like he said yes to whatever he said.
Guess he was not a real criminal, and admitted guilt, unlike the criminals that have victims, who never generally admit guilt to their crimes.
Guess he was not a real criminal, and admitted guilt, unlike the criminals that have victims, who never generally admit guilt to their crimes.
well he's sure living up to it 
That is shocking..trax said:
What he admitted let him down. Whilst not saying he was good in what he did, I very much doubt that the speed he did was dangerous, even though he admitted so, looks like he said yes to whatever he said.
Guess he was not a real criminal, and admitted guilt, unlike the criminals that have victims, who never generally admit guilt to their crimes.
Huh?? 78 in a residential 30 sounds pretty dangerous to me!
awracing said:
What he admitted let him down. Whilst not saying he was good in what he did, I very much doubt that the speed he did was dangerous, even though he admitted so, looks like he said yes to whatever he said.
Guess he was not a real criminal, and admitted guilt, unlike the criminals that have victims, who never generally admit guilt to their crimes.
Huh?? 78 in a residential 30 sounds pretty dangerous to me!
depends, you could be on the A13 in the 30 zone at 3am which is a 3 lane highway in each way and totally dead at that time..
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