A BOY racer admitted he was stupid after being caught speeding five times in the same night in the same place.Paul Taylor, was just one of 23 drivers to appear at South East Suffolk Magistrates following a speeding clamp down in the 30mph zone of Grafton Way, Cardinal Park.

A BOY racer admitted he was stupid after being caught speeding five times in the same night in the same place.

Paul Taylor, was just one of 23 drivers to appear at South East Suffolk Magistrates following a speeding clamp down in the 30mph zone of Grafton Way, Cardinal Park.

Taylor, 24, of Gloucester Road, Bury St Edmunds was caught on the night of January 2 at 8.57pm, 9.27pm, 10.29pm, 11.26pm and 12.12am at speeds of up to 54mph.

In court he said: "I am just sorry for being stupid."

The presiding magistrate, Edward Draper, said he would not take into account the fact that the offences had happened in such a short space of time and that they were an act of bad behaviour on Taylor's behalf. However, He set a fine of £290, with £55 court costs and gave a two-year disqualification.

Iain Lewis, 20, of Hornbeam Road, Stowupland, pleaded guilty to four charges of speeding over the two nights of the operation.

On January 2 he was caught speeding on Grafton Way at 9.50pm and 10.15pm. Three days later he was caught in the same spot at 10.45pm and 11.30pm.

Lewis represented himself in court but offered no excuses for his behaviour. He told the court if he lost his licence it would become difficult to travel the four miles to work but would not become impossible. He was fined £210, made to pay £55 court costs and disqualified for six months.

Bryan Betts, who was caught twice during the speeding operation, was the only driver to deny he was a boy racer.

Betts, 32, of Renfrew Road, Ipswich, said: "I know lots of youngsters race around there but that is not why I was there. I was simply on my way home, one time from an evening at the cinema."

He got nine points on his licence, £300 fine and made to pay £55 court costs.

Other racers included Jamie Talbot, 19, of Ransome Cresent, Ipswich, who admitted he was not thinking of what he was doing. He was fined £100, made to pay £55 costs and disqualified for 28 days.

Graham Smith, 25, of Cobbold Street, Ipswich, was fined £60 with £55 court costs.

Curtis Sorhaindo, 18, of Renfrew Road, Ipswich, was fined £200, with £55 costs and had his licence endorsed with nine penalty points.

Daniel Andrews, 21, of Morland Road, Ipswich, offence January 2, fine £150, costs £35 and three penalty points.

Robert Beaumont, 22, of Blake Avenue, Shotley, offence January 5, fine £150, costs £35 and three points.

Simon Bennett, 20, of Tranmere Grove Ipswich, offence January 2, fine £150, cost £35 and three points.

Oliver Cundall-Curry, 21, of Risbeygate Street, Bury St Edmunds, offence January 2, fine £100, £35 costs and three points.

Matthew Pollard, 18, of Lupin Way, Needham Market, offence Janaury 2, fine £150, £35 costs and three points.

The remaining drivers had their cases adjourned until April 2.

Police inspector Jim Woods, of FHQ traffic unit, said: "We are very pleased with the results from Operation Klatch. The court appearances send out a clear message to those who commit motoring offences especially in the Cardinal Park area of Ipswich.

"We will continue with operations such as these to clamp down on the problems we are experiencing with boy racers."