A pharmacist has been fined and banned from riding after police caught him reaching “recklessly high speeds” on his motorcycle.
Faiz Shahzad Ismail, a registered pharmacist of Yarm Road, Stockton-on-Tees, was fined £500 and banned from riding for three months at the Isle of Man Courts of Justice on May 26.
Read more: Pharmacist suspended for failing to report driving convictions
The 30-year-old was also ordered by deputy high bailiff Rachael Braidwood to pay £125 in prosecution costs and take an extended test after the ban expires.
The Isle of Man Courts of Justice confirmed to C+D that Ismail was told he must pay the fine and costs immediately or face up to 40 days in prison.
“Embarrassed”
The court heard that an Isle of Man police officer in an unmarked motorcycle followed Ismail on May 23, while he was visiting the island for the Isle of Man TT motorcycle race.
Prosecuting advocate Sara-Jayne Dodge said Ismail travelled at 115mph in a 50mph zone - and the police officer reported seeing the front wheel of his motorbike lifting off the ground, before radioing ahead for Ismail to be stopped.
Read more: Pharmacist struck off for drug driving and Easter egg theft
In a prepared statement provided to police, Ismail denied that his front wheel left the ground as his motorbike had “an electronic system designed to prevent wheelies”.
The police officer’s motorbike camera footage was shown to the court and it captured Ismail doing several high-speed overtakes.
Defence advocate Lawrie Gelling said the pharmacist had become too excited riding his motorbike when visiting for the TT races and was embarrassed and ashamed to be in court.
“Rode recklessly”
Gelling said banning Ismail would create problems for both himself and others as he is a pharmacist that delivers medication to housebound patients and is also a carer for his father.
But Braidwood said “speed limits are there for a reason”, and Ismail “chose to ignore the limits and rode at recklessly high speeds”.
Read more: Superintendent’s FtP restored after ‘home brew’ drunk delivery van crash
“You put yourself at risk and you put others at risk,” she added. “You should have thought about how important your licence was to you before you rode as you did.”
The Isle of Man Constabulary told C+D that public safety is its “primary aim” and it will continue to deal with incidents like this “appropriately.”
It comes after the General Pharmaceutical Council’s fitness-to-practise committee suspended a pharmacist for six weeks for failing to report driving-related convictions to the regulator.
