Court hears how police followed oil trail to find hiding motorcyclist

POLICE followed a trail of oil as they searched for motorcyclist Lee Gardner, after the 20 year old crashed his bike into a friend s car and then drove off. Gardner s machine was eventually found hidden behind a garden fence and he had disappeared from th

POLICE followed a trail of oil as they searched for motorcyclist Lee Gardner, after the 20 year old crashed his bike into a friend's car and then drove off.

Gardner's machine was eventually found hidden behind a garden fence and he had disappeared from the scene, a judge was told this week.

The crash happened after Gardner had bragged that he had no insurance or licence to ride his Yamaha machine, said prosecutor Marion Bastin.

Gardner's friend Adam Rivett was on his way to a supermarket when Gardner drove up along side him, and the two collided on a right hand bend.

Adam Rivett lost control of his car and swerved off the road, and Gardner's cycle also skidded and left the carriageway.

At Wisbech courthouse on Tuesday, Gardner, of Queen Elizabeth Drive, Wisbech, admitted failing to stop after an accident on May 25, and using a vehicle without insurance or a licence.

Mitigating, Andrew Cogan said Gardner, who hopes for a career in the Parachute Regiment, had not bragged about his missing documents, but had informed people of the situation.

"He realises he was stupid to ride the motorcycle that day, and realises the accident could have been significantly worse."

Gardner was given a four-week suspended jail sentence and banned from driving for a year. He must carry out 100 hours of unpaid work; he will be supervised by the probation service for a year, and must pay �105 costs.