A BIKER who sped along a bypass at twice the 60mph limit because his pillion passenger needed the toilet escaped a jail sentence yesterday.

Harrogate magistrates saw a videotape shot from an unmarked police patrol car on the Harrogate and Knaresborough southern bypass which showed Neil Loten on his 900cc Honda Fireblade.

The footage showed the police Subaru Impreza reaching a speed of 122mph as it set off in pursuit.

When Loten, 38, turned on to the A61 Harrogate-Leeds road and then into narrow winding Burn Bridge Road, the patrol car's speed reached 79mph as its flashing lights and siren were ignored.

Loten who was finally caught when he arrived at his home, Bilton Grove Farm, Hill Foot Lane, Pannal, Harrogate, admitted dangerous driving.

In mitigation, Clive Farndon said Loten was a biker with more than 20 years' experience.

His partner, who had been on the bike, had signalled she urgently needed to use a toilet. As there were no public facilities on the route Loten had driven ''at considerable speed'' on his way home.

Mr Farndon said there were no mirrors on the Fireblade so Loten had not seen the Subaru's flashing lights. His helmet had masked the siren.

Loten would be unable to carry on as a self-employed mobile paint sprayer without his driving licence and was likely to find his debts increasing, said Mr Farndon.

His client was ordered to carry out 150 hours of community punishment work and £45 costs. An extended driving test will also have to be taken after an 18-month ban.