A 22-YEAR-old Ipswich motorcyclist who drove at speeds of up to 70 miles per hour during a police chase has been jailed for 12 weeks.

A 22-YEAR-old Ipswich motorcyclist who drove at speeds of up to 70 miles per hour during a police chase has been jailed for 12 weeks.

Simon Ford was not wearing a crash helmet or displaying lights on his motorcycle during the pursuit which took place in the early hours of August 22, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

The chase began after an officer in a marked police car saw Ford riding a motorcycle in London Road, Ipswich.

During the pursuit Ford drove at speeds of up to 70 mph in 30 mph limits and at one stage was seen to drive along a pavement, said Godfried Duah, prosecuting.

He was eventually arrested after his motorcycle hit railings at the entrance to an alleyway and Ford fell off the bike.

It was noticed that he smelled of alcohol and a breath test showed that he had 56 microgram's of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35 micrograms.

Ford of Bramford Road, Ipswich admitted dangerous driving, drink driving and driving without insurance and a driving licence.

He was jailed for 12 weeks and banned from driving for 12 months.

Sentencing him Judge Peter Fenn said Ford's driving could have had potentially serious consequences if a pedestrian had been walking along the pavement when he was driving along it.

Neil Macaulay, for Ford, said he had ridden off on his motorcycle after an argument with his girlfriend. “He made a spontaneous decision in the heat of the moment”, he said.

Mr Macaulay explained that Ford shared the motorcycle with someone else and it had been stripped down for off-road use.

He said that fortunately no-one had been injured and no damage caused as a result of Ford's driving on the night in question.