Published: Friday, 30th October, 2009 9:00am

Camera calls made after 166mph record speeder is driven to jail

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LOCAL MSP Jeremy Purvis is demanding the introduction of speed cameras on the Dolphinton Straight.

His calls come just hours after a Berwickshire biker was locked up for hitting 166 miles-per-hour on the notorious stretch of the A702 - a Scottish record.

Hairdresser Neil Purves was jailed for nine months on Wednesday at Peebles Sheriff Court.

The 27-year-old was more than 100mph over the limit when he was caught by police on May 13.

And the court heard how the 27-year-old covered 0.7 of a mile in just 16 seconds while shocked officers clocked his speed with a hand-held trap.

The Tweeddale MSP repeated his calls for more speed regulation on the dangerous road after hearing the startling facts behind the case.

Mr Purvis told the Peeblesshire News: "The jailing of the biker should send a message to the Government that action needs to be taken on this trunk road in my constituency before an innocent party is killed.

"I have repeatedly warned of the potential dangers on this stretch and the minister has on his desk right now a letter from me asking him to intervene to allow speed cameras to be installed on this part of the road.

"Up until now Transport Scotland has refused to consider this even with the terrifying speeds clocked by police. The time for prevarication is now over and action has to be taken. The minister has to act before someone is killed."

Police speed traps regularly net motorists exceeding the 60mph limit on the two-mile-long straight by massive speeds.

More than a dozen drivers have lost their licence in the past year after being clocked over 100mph.

But nobody has come close to the Berwickshire biker.

Procurator Fiscal Depute Alastair Learmont told this week's hearing: "At 7.25pm two officers were alerted by the high pitched engine noise of an approaching vehicle.

"As the motorcycle passed the junction they were sitting at the speed and distance device was activated. The device initially displayed 120mph but after they moved onto the road and the motorcycle accelerated the device displayed 166.15mph."

The court was told that the hairdresser has since sold his Suzuki GSX-R 1000 motorcycle for £2,000.

Purves, who works at a salon in Edinburgh, was accompanied in court by his parents.

Defence lawyer Graham Walker told the court: "Superbikes have a seductive appeal to them.

"It is fair to say he was seduced by speed.

"His parents, employer and friends have been very supportive and he is of very good character. As well as being supportive his parents are very angry - there have been a lot of sleepless nights in the Purves household."

But Sheriff John Horsburgh decided to jail Purves for nine months and ban him for 5 years.

The Sheriff said: "The speed at which you were travelling means a custodial sentence is the only option I have."