A motorcyclist admitted fabricating a "lengthy deception" to enable him to ride his motorbike, a court heard.

Mark Smith, of Acton Park Road, Clacton, was stopped by police on the A133 at Weeley after they noticed he had a defective silencer.

Colchester Magistrates' Court heard yesterday how police then noticed his motorbike index plates were smaller than the regulation size.

When asked to produce his driving licence, Smith, 41, admitted he had deceived his insurers into believing he was a motorcyclist with several years' experience.

In fact, Smith only held a provisional licence, making his insurance invalid.

Smith admitted making a false statement to obtain insurance, driving a vehicle with plates which did not comply with regulations, driving without insurance, without a licence and with a defective silencer.

Smith, who was not represented, said: "There's not much I can really say. I bought the bike with the intention of taking the test in the summer and that didn't happen."

Smith was disqualified for six months and fined £200 for having invalid insurance and £100 for using deception to obtain insurance.

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Published Friday, February 25, 2005

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