A MOTORCYCLIST who clocked almost 80mph and pulled a wheelie along a city street was found guilty of dangerous driving.

Van Marc Hardman, 12 and from Knottingley, West Yorkshire, was handed a 12-week sentence, suspended for a year, given an 18-month ban and ordered to pay £735 in fines and costs.

He was also ordered to complete 250 hours of community service and when he has served his ban, he faces an extended driving test before being able to return to the road.

"On the March 20, 2016, Hardman was captured by a North Yorkshire Police safety camera, pulling a wheelie and riding his 600cc motorbike at speeds of 78 mph along Skipwith Road in Escrick, York - a residential area with a 30 mph limit," said a spokesman for North Yorkshire Police.

The spokesman said Hardman was riding with two others – a 22-year-old man from Pontefract, who was disqualified from riding at the time, who has since pleaded guilty to exceeding the speed limit and riding while disqualified. He received a six month ban and ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work and pay £145 in fines and costs.

The other rider in the group – a 22-year-old man from Knottingley, West Yorkshire - also pleaded guilty in court to exceeding the speed limit. He received six penalty points and was ordered to pay £393 in fines and costs.

Traffic Constable Andy Forth of the North Yorkshire Police Traffic Bureau said: “North Yorkshire Police fully support this conviction.

"Hardman was captured riding dangerously in excess of double the speed limit along a residential street.

"His riding behaviour displayed sheer stupidity and the sentence handed to him reflects the fact that he was prepared to put others in danger as a result of his irresponsible riding.

"He can consider himself very lucky that his actions did not lead to tragedy – not only to himself, but to other road users who were in the area at the time.”