A motorcyclist who was clocked speeding at 84mph in the Craven area has been sent to prison for five months for perverting the course of justice. David Cox, 46, of Ash Grove, Golborne, Warrington, Cheshire, was brought to justice by Traffic Constable Mark Mullins after a long-running and complex investigation which began on 14 September 2008 when Cox was caught speeding on the A65 at Clapham at 11.20am. The investigation proved far from straight forward, but it ultimately ended in Cox being sentenced at Bradford Crown Court on 8 May 2009. He was also handed a 12-month ban from the roads. How the investigation unfolded....... TC Mullins was out on patrol that morning and spotted two motorcycles travelling at speed. He managed to stop one of the bikes and that rider was given a speeding ticket. But the other rider, on a 800cc Suzuki which was travelling at 84mph in the 60mph zone with a pillion passenger, made off from the police. Crucially, the fleeing bike's registration number was captured by the patrol car's video camera. TC Mullins sent the number plate details to the national database and it turned out the motorcycle was registered to a Mr David Cox from Golborne, Warrington. Following inquiries, Cox eventually replied to the police. While he confirmed that that he was indeed the owner of the motorcycle in question, he stated that he was not the rider at the time. He named the rider as a woman who was visiting the UK from the town of Twin Falls, Idaho, USA. Google With the potential difficulties which this new information presented, TC Mullins liaised with Traffic Sergeant Les Moorhouse to discuss the best way forward with the investigation. Using the powers of the Google internet search engine, the officers were able to establish that this woman did exist in the USA, and she did in fact live at the address given by Cox. Further investigation via the internet, in particular the "Pistonheads" website forum, the officers discovered a common topic of discussion amongst riders was to state someone else was riding the bike if they received a summons for speeding. The "advice" on the biker website was so say that the so-called offending rider lives abroad in the belief that the police would simply abandon all attempts to follow up the investigation. Cox was clearly taken in by this, but what he did not bank on was the tenacity and innovation displayed by TC Mullins and TS Moorhouse. Taking the investigation a stage further, TC Mullins contacted Captain Krear at Twin Falls Police Department in Idaho. Two Troopers, Dusty Soliman and David Frick, were dispatched to the address given by Cox. The named "suspect" was interviewed and gave a statement that she was visiting the Craven area at the time, but she was actually a pillion passenger on another motorcycle. She named Cox as the rider of the bike in question, and the pillion passenger as his wife. Facebook Interestingly, the woman also directed the investigation to the Facebook social network site where pictures of that day's ride out had been posted, including those of Cox and his wife. Despite the body of incriminating evidence, Cox continued to obstruct the investigation by refusing to answer correspondence and to speak to the local police in Warrington. On 21 January 2009 the decision was made to arrest Cox at his home address. He proved to be aggressive and obstructive, and had to be restrained and taken to the floor. Due to his manner he was placed in the police cells in Wigan. The officers then returned to the house where they seized the riding leathers and helmets which matched those seen on the in-car video. During interview Cox made no reply, until the very end when he admitted to the speeding charge only. After close liaison with the Crown Prosecution Service, and on the strength of evidence uncovered, Cox was charged on 26 March 2009 with perverting the course of justice, riding without a driving licence and excessive speed. He appeared at Skipton Magistrates' Court on 27 March 2009. The case was sent for trial at Bradford Crown Court after Cox denied perverting the course of justice. However, he changed his plea at the Crown Court hearing and was handed the prison sentence. TS Moorhouse, who is based at Skipton, was "very satisfied" with the result and praised the excellent work carried out by TC Mullins. He said: "This case sends out a clear message to all riders coming into the county that North Yorkshire Police officers will leave no stone unturned in our efforts to bring dangerous and criminal road users to justice. "It was shocking but, sadly, not surprising to discover that some people will go to great and calculating lengths to avoid being caught by the police. "This type of reckless behaviour is completely unacceptable and anti-social in the extreme. What if he had caused a serious or even a fatal collision? Would he have come forward to the police knowing that he was breaking the law by travelling at speed and riding without a licence? It does make you wonder and this issue is a grave concern for the police up and down the country." TS Moorhouse has ensured that colleagues throughout the force are aware of the evading tactics employed by some offending riders and motorists. The effective use of the internet as an investigative tool in certain cases has also been highlighted. 30 June 2009                                                                                                                                                                             

i admire tenacious pursuit! as my dad said any job yu do try an do your  best,good on em!                                                                                                                                                                             

We should send that to America as the Uk's dumest criminal lol. What a plank posting on facebook the evidence that helped hang him lol.                                                                                                                                                                             

I thought it was only the mounties that always got there man ...gotta start being careful now lol                                                                                                                                                                             

How much did this ALL cost!!!!!! the UK....  Hope they are able to pursue pedos with th e same tenationess?   Im shocked!                                                                                                                                                                             

I would think just a few hours on the internet, a couple of phone calls to the States and the actual arrest.... wouldn't come to much!   The guy had no licence and attempted to flee from the police. No sympathy from me, I'm afraid!                                                                                                                                                                             

Sorry   Will read more slowly  - and he did lie  & got american friend into bother.....Slapped wrist hurts..Consider me told. Wonder if he sold his bike?                                                                                                                                                                             

He heh... no slapping inferred!   My thoughts are, if you can't do the time, don't do the crime.   Interesting point though - on what grounds can they confiscate a bike?                                                                                                                                                                             

DITTO ur thoughts.. My philosophy too.   Not up on legal confiscations tho...