Benjamin Jack Martin caught speeding at 200km/h on way to Arundel Presbyterian Church

A student was caught driving his motorbike at 200km/hr on the M1 – almost twice the limit – on his way to a Gold Coast church.

AN engineering student was caught driving a Suzuki motorbike at 200km/hr on the M1 – almost twice the limit – on his way to church.

Benjamin Jack Martin then drove more than twice the 60km/hr speed limit when he hit 140km/hr on Smith Street, Southport.

The 21-year-old had earlier told his friends he needed to get rid of his motorcycle because the temptation to speed was too high.

Martin pleaded guilty in the Southport Magistrates Court on Wednesday to dangerous operation of a vehicle.

Magistrate Grace Kahlert placed him on 12 months’ probation, ordered he perform 40 hours community service and disqualified his licence for six month. No conviction was recorded.

“Your driving placed other people at risk as well,” she said.

“You could well have killed yourself driving in that manner.”

The court was told the police helicopter spotted Martin travelling about 200km/hr on the Pacific Motorway about 5.50pm on July 21 this year.

He was going from his home in Worongary to the Arundel Presbyterian Church in Arundel.

Martin slowed his bike when he saw a stationary police car, causing other cars to brake, police prosecutor Senior Constable Nicole Conditsis told the court.

She said Martin then sped up again before turning onto Smith Street where he was spotted going about 140km/hr in the 60km/hr zone.

Martin was then spotted going on Napper Road before parking at the Arundel Presbyterian Church.

Defence lawyer David Abrey, of Harper Finch Lawyers, said Martin had completed the Queensland Traffic Offenders Program, a defensive driving course and sold his bike.

He said Martin had two jobs while he studied engineering.

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