Rider banned after police found 120mph footage on seized helmet-cam

A 19-YEAR-OLD motorcyclist has been disqualified after police found footage on his helmet cam showing him riding at speeds of up to 120mph along the M3.

Dennis Kuzmenok, 19, of Kent Road, Southampton, came to the attention of police after he rear-ended a taxi on West Quay Road on November 12 last year, leaving his female pillion passenger with minor injuries. Officers seized his helmet-mounted GoPro as part of an investigation into dangerous driving, on which they found footage of him riding at 120mph along the M3 northbound just four days earlier, on November 8. That footage also showed Kuzemenok travelling at 105mph along Thomas Lewis Way.

When the footage was presented in court, his speeds were reduced to reflect the motorcycle odometer’s inaccuracy, which was out by roughly eight per cent.

Following a two-day trial at Southampton Crown Court, Kuzmenok was on Tuesday found guilty of two counts of dangerous driving and sentenced to a 12-month community order to carry out 50 hours of unpaid work. He was also disqualified from driving for 15 months, and will have to pass an extended re-test before he is allowed back on the road

During the sentencing Judge Burrell described Kuzmenok as “arrogant”, adding that he had showed “little regard” for the safety of others.

After the sentencing PC Richard Miell, from the Joint Roads Policing Unit, added: “This shocking footage clearly shows just how dangerous his riding was.

“Travelling at high speeds on any roads is incredibly reckless, but to do it on Thomas Lewis Way and the M3, two major roads with heavy traffic, showed total disregard for others and put not only his life at risk but the lives of other innocent road users.

“I hope it comes as some reassurance to the public that this dangerous rider is no longer a risk on our roads.”