A motorcyclist who pulled "hair-raising" wheelies and took a selfie on the M6 has been jailed for eight months.

Pawel Zietowski, 27, travelled at speeds of up to 117mph and stood up on his Yamaha R6's footrests as he rode on the motorway in Staffordshire.

Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court was shown video footage of his antics, which also included rummaging through a backpack to find a mobile phone.

The car paint-sprayer, from Warrington in Cheshire, was filmed by an unmarked police patrol for 16 minutes as he rode northbound on the afternoon of 3 June.

He was pulled over near Yarnfield by an officer from the Central Motorway Police Group (CMPG).


Zietowski, who admitted dangerous driving at a previous hearing, was also banned for 28 months.

Image: Zietowski performed wheelies and also took a selfie

Originally from Poland, Zietowski told probation officers he was interested in stunt riding and was "practising" when he was spotted on the M6.

But judge David Fletcher said his riding was "hair-raising", telling Zietowski he wanted the court to view the footage "because I wanted to be sure that you had seen it".

"You were showing off," the judge said.

"It was clearly driving which was over a lengthy period of time, involving speeds of up to 117mph, involving you twice removing the backpack.

"You were pulling wheelies on a number of occasions and at one point you were standing up with no hands on the handlebars.

"This was a piece of appalling driving."

Inspector Sion Hathway, from the CMPG, said: "Such dangerous riding will not be tolerated on our roads.

"Zietowski showed a blatant disregard for the rules of the road and fellow motorists.

"His antics could have easily resulted in tragedy."