London cyclist fined £400 for speeding after being clocked at 38mph in Richmond Park

Paul Harness, 40, lashed out for police for "hiding behind trees" after he appeared at court charged with speeding and cycling without due care and attention
Angry: Paul Harness hit out at police after he was fined for speeding on his bicycle in Richmond Park
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Jamie Bullen31 October 2015

A cyclist caught speeding in Richmond Park has accused police of "hiding behind a tree" after he was ordered to pay more than £600 by magistrates.

Paul Harness, 40, was found guilty of speeding and riding a bicycle without due care and attention when he was clocked doing 38mph down Sawyers Hill by police.

He denied both offences but was fined £400 at Lavender Hill Magistrates' Court and ordered to pay an additional £220 in costs.

The day after the hearing, Harness posted an angry message on his Facebook where he hit out at the officer who clocked him following the incident in January.

He wrote: "Got spotted by the cops overtaking on the outside at about 27 mph and going back to the inside to go around a car turning right,this time I did not get caught by his speed gun did not get done for speeding @38mph and cycling without due care and attention did not have to plead not guilty in front of the magistrate did not have to listen to a cop who calibrates his speed gun every day and hides behind a tree in Richmond park hammering me in front of the court,what a sad case he is!

Beauty spot: Richmond Park in south west London
Alamy

"The amount of money it must cost to pay a magistrate and have a court case I'm sure the £620 fine I received does not even come close to covering it!"

The speed limit in Richmond Park is 20mph but whether the rules should apply to cyclists has been questioned.

A spokeswoman for the Royal Parks said speeding rules were enforced by police.

They added: "Speed limits on the Royal Parks’ roads help to ensure the comfort and safety of all park users and protect the wildlife. We expect all road users to adhere to those limits.”

Riders caught speeding have previously been urged to challenge fines given to them in court.

In November last year, BBC radio presenter Jeremy Vine highlighted issues around speeding cyclists when he was stopped by police in Hyde Park in November for riding at 16mph in a 5mph zone.

In March, the Standard reported how Rory Palmer faced expulsion from one of London's leading cycling clubs when he pleaded guilty to exceeding the speed limit in Sawyers Hill after he was caught speeding at 41mph.

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