140mph YouTube boy racer facing jail

Toyota MR2 vid stunt ends before the beak

By Lester Haines • Get more from this author

Posted in Law, 12th June 2007 10:16 GMT

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An 18-year-old who filmed himself gunning it at over 140mph in his dad's motor and posted the footage on YouTube is facing jail, The Sun reports.

Nathan Campbell yesterday 'fessed up to dangerous driving to Burnley magistrates for his escapade which saw him overtake on the hard shoulder of the M65 in Lancashire "while music blared from the stereo of his dad's Toyota MR2".

Two stills from the YouTube MR2 video

Prosecutor Elizabeth Read said: "Off-duty PC Michael Holt, travelling with his pregnant wife and 21-month-old son, saw the car undertaking several cars - swerving and going on the hard shoulder. A vehicle in the inside lane had to swerve to let him back on the motorway."

The boy racer was identified following a complaint to police by a YouTube visitor. They subsequently found his mobile phone with the footage still on it, although Campbell claimed a friend had posted it.

District Judge Peter Ward yesterday referred the case to Burnley Crown Court for sentencing next month, explaining: "It seems to me this is so serious that this court is not suitable to deal with sentencing."

The Sun has the white-knuckle video here. ®

Bootnote

Thanks to those who wrote to say The Sun appears to have mislaid the clip, and pointing us in the direction of this YouTube version. Enjoy it while you can: