Police footage shows motorcyclist overtaking unmarked cop car at 100mph while pulling a wheelie

Northumbria Police shared the shocking footage, which shows three motorcyclists hurtle past an unmarked police car - with one pulling a wheelie on the motorway.

Officers were entering the A194(M) from the slip road at Follingsby Lane in Gateshead when the motorcycles overtook them in the fast lane at speed.

The motorcyclists were clearly travelling at speeds in excess of the 70mph limit but officers were stunned to see one of the riders performing a wheelie while overtaking.

Police followed the motorcycles and pulled over the offender – Lee Embleton, 51, who was subsequently reported for dangerous driving.

The footage showing the dangerous stunt, which happened about 1.30pm on June 23, 2018, was then passed to the Force’s collision investigation unit who were able to accurately calculate Embleton’s speed and prove he was travelling at over 100mph.

While pulling a wheelie on a motorbike isn’t technically illegal, it does fall under the offence of dangerous driving as the driver is clearly not in full control of their vehicle.

And Embleton, of Ashwood Grange, Thornley, County Durham, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving when he appeared at Newcastle Crown Court on Friday September 11.

The 51-year-old has been handed an interim driving ban and an immediate forfeiture order was made for officers to seize the Yamaha bike. He will be sentenced at the same court on November 13 this year.

Following Embleton’s appearance at Newcastle Crown Court last week, Northumbria Police Chief Inspector Sam Rennison said: “We deal with dangerous driving cases on a regular basis but it beggars belief that somebody would act so stupidly and dangerously on the roads.

“The overwhelming majority of motorbike riders use the roads in a safe manner and respect their own safety as well as other motorists, but Embleton did not and must now deal with the consequences of his actions.

“Unfortunately for Embleton, he decided to carry out the ridiculous stunt right in front of an unmarked police car – and our officers were able to quickly stop him and report him for the offences.

“Not only did he put his own life in danger on the afternoon in question, but also every other road user. His actions could easily have had fatal consequences and I sincerely hope he realises the severity of his actions.

“I would like to thank our fantastic collision investigation unit who were able to dissect the footage and calculate Embleton’s speed – which was clearly above the legal limit and against the law.

“We make no apology for taking robust action against those who flout the law and endanger the lives of others. Our roads are not a racetrack, and it is abundantly clear that Embleton cannot be trusted to use them in a lawful and safe manner.”

Northumbria Police has appealed for anyone with dashcam footage of somebody driving in a dangerous or reckless manner to upload the clip at the ‘Report an Incident’ page of the Northumbria Police website here.

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