WITH VIDEO: Police tracked down a reckless motorist who raced another car at speeds in excess of 130mph on the Lincoln bypass by tracing an internet video of the stunt.

Footage of the race on May 22 last year led officers at Lincolnshire Police's central ticket office to identify 31-year-old Benjamin Ryan as the driver of a speeding VW Golf ED30.

He was racing against a blue Audi RS4 on the bypass between the Skellingthorpe and Carholme roundabouts.

Ryan, of Madden Close, off Long Leys Road, Lincoln, was charged with racing on a public highway.

He pleaded guilty and has been banned from driving for 15 months, as well as fined £450 plus £400 costs.

A charge of dangerous driving was yesterday withdrawn by the Crown at Lincoln Magistrates' Court.

PC Richard Shrimpton, who investigated the case, said Ryan showed a blatant disregard for the safety of others which could easily have led to tragic consequences.

"Not only was driving at this speed a foolish and reckless act, to post the footage on the Internet in order to publicise and glamorise his actions was even more irresponsible," he said.

"Speeding isn't something to be boastful of, and if people could see the consequences of excessive speed, such as the aftermath of collisions and how these can devastate lives, I'm sure they wouldn't find it at all exciting."

No action has been taken against the Audi driver.

For more on the court case, see Wednesday's Echo.