A motorcyclist who weaved in and out of traffic at speeds up to 148mph – believed to be the highest ever speed recorded in the UK by a rider carrying a pillion passenger – has today been banned from driving for 15 months.

Paul Roberts was filmed by an Essex Police motorcyclist as he rode south on the M11.

Roberts, 43 of Malkin Drive Lane, Harlow, who runs a taxi firm in London, was riding to work on his Kawasaki ZZR 1400 with a friend as passenger on Friday, September 12.

He joined the M11 at Hastingwood and was seen and followed by Pc Paul Hills who was involved in a motorcycle safety operation on the motorway.

A video camera on Pc Hill’s bike recorded events as Roberts weaved across all three lanes. At one point he is seen riding through a narrow gap between a lorry and a car.

Roberts was eventually stopped near Chigwell and later summonsed for dangerous driving.

He admitted the offence and appeared for sentence at Chelmsford Crown Court today (Monday). He was also ordered to do 120 hours community service, told to take an extended re-test and to pay £460 costs.

Sgt Nick Edwards, from the Essex Police Motorcycle Unit, said: “The levels of harm to which Paul Roberts subjected himself, his pillion passenger, the public and my officer are just beyond comprehension.

“These speeds are for race tracks not public roads.

“This riding behaviour will not be tolerated on Essex roads and the court have clearly recognised the consequences of the riders actions in the punishment that has been awarded.”

He added: “The Essex Police Casualty Reduction Section continues to focus on targeting drivers and riders that through their actions pose the greatest risk of harm to themselves and other road users.”

Sgt Edwards said that Pc Hills and other Essex Police motorcyclists were carrying out a specific operation targeting motorcycle commuters using the M11.

This was in a direct response to complaints from members of the public about inappropriate filtering between lanes by motorcyclists and a high number across the county of serious road collisions involving motorcycles.