Driving ban for Clr James Greenwood

Jun 30 2009 Huddersfield Daily Examiner

A SENIOR Kirklees education officer who drove a high-powered motorcycle at more than twice the permitted speed limit has been banned from driving.

James Greenwood, of Bourn View Road, Netherton, Huddersfield, was banned for 28 days by Barnsley magistrates after admitting driving his Kawasaki machine at 90 mph at Halifax Road, Wortley, on May 17.

He was also fined £268 with £35 costs and a £15 victim surcharge by Julie Wild, presiding. She told him the fact he was riding at more than double the road’s 40mph speed limit meant it was “off the scale” of their sentencing guidelines.

The offence was further aggravated by a previous driving disqualification and that it was committed when he was unfamiliar with the power of a new machine.

Greenwood, 34, told the court disqualification would have a severe impact on his work for the Kirklees local education authority with responsibilities for the development of staff and students.

Asking for leniency, Greenwood, who is also a Holmfirth parish councillor, said the offence took place when he had set off for Sheffield with an experienced-rider friend but they had then decided to return home because of the weather looking “grey and black.”