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A dad of four has been hit with a four month jail sentence after being caught by a speed trap travelling at 149mph on a motorcycle.

Barry Gray, a Motocross champion, had been roadtesting a 20-year-old Suzuki 1100 for faults when he was caught by the camera.

It snapped him while he was speeding on the single carriageway A95 between Aviemore and Grantown.

Sheriff David Sutherland was astounded when he learned the 39-year-old father of four told social workers he did not know he was travelling at such a high speed .

Sentence had earlier been deferred for a background report.

(Image: West Lothian Courier)

The sheriff told Gray: “This is one of the highest speeds ever recorded in the Highlands. It beggars belief you would test your bike in circumstances like this.

“But I am perturbed that, not withstanding your knowledge of bikes, you were not aware of the speed you were doing. Therefore I cannot deal with this other than with a custodial sentence.”

The visibly shocked Gray was also disqualified from driving for five years and ordered to resit the extended driving test before being allowed back on the road, reported the Daily Record .

Gray, of Aviemore Holiday Park, was caught by a police speed trap on September 7, 2015. He admitted driving dangerously.

Willie Young, defending, said Gray was familiar with driving bikes at such speeds as the ex-oil worker competed in Scottish championships. He added: “He has held a licence since the age of 16, which was when he had his only road traffic offence.

“This was a vehicle which was 20 years old but had a low mileage.

“It had a running issue as it had been sitting in a garage for eight years and had a rusty fuel tank and gathered dirt.

“He had stripped it down and had taken it into Inverness to get good fuel and a fuel additive. The vehicle was still spluttering but as he got near Aviemore he felt the issue was starting to clear.

“He was familiar with this road and knew there was a straight coming up. He was the only vehicle in sight and he did a burst of acceleration over a distance of 1000 feet.

“He then decelerated down to the speed limit as he approached traffic up ahead.”