A BANNED 21-year-old driver was clocked at 124mph on a Dorset road.

Dylan Ryan Birchall, of Pevensey Road, Bognor Regis, was spotted by a police officer on the A35 Upton bypass, near Poole, at around 10.50pm on Saturday, May 31.

A Dorset Police spokesperson said the officer was stationary when he “heard an engine noise rapidly approaching”.

“The speed of the car – a silver Volkswagen Polo saloon – was recorded on a laser device to be 124mph,” the spokesperson said. “The officer followed the vehicle and directed it to stop at Safety Drive.

“On first inspection of the car, there was significant heat emanating from the tyres and a strong odour of hot rubber and brake material could be smelt.

“The driver of the car admitted that he was currently disqualified from driving and was not insured.”

READ MORE: Crime news from your New Stour & Avon

Birchall was issued with a postal requisition to appear at court for offences of speeding, driving while disqualified and using a motor vehicle on a road or public place without third party insurance.

He was sentenced at Poole Magistrates’ Court on Friday, July 11, to a two-year community order, as well as an additional eight-month disqualification from driving. He was ordered to pay a £438 fine, £114 victim surcharge and £85 in costs.

Sergeant Chris Brolan, of the Roads Policing Team, said: “This motorist recorded speeds that were almost double the speed limit for the road he was travelling on and it is extremely lucky that he was not involved in a collision.

“In 2023 and 2024 combined in Dorset, exceeding the speed limit was the most common contributory factor of a fatal collision. Therefore, it is vitally important that we work to keep motorists travelling within the speed limit to keep people safe.

“As part of a national campaign, we are putting the spotlight on road safety this month and highlighting the biggest killers on our roads, known as the fatal five. This includes drink and drug driving, excessive and inappropriate speed, not wearing a seatbelt, driver distractions such as using a mobile phone and dangerous or careless driving.

“We are releasing the footage from this incident to show the public just how dangerous it can be when travelling at excessive speeds. We undergo extensive training in order to be able to travel at high speeds as one slight lapse of judgement could have tragic consequences.

“Roads policing and No Excuse officers are out there to proactively patrol our county to keep all road users safe and reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured in Dorset.”