WATCH: 'Evo Triangle' racers fined after 117mph footage posted on YouTube
An RAF technician from Oswestry is among three young drivers who have been fined for racing at up to 117mph on a famous stretch of north Wales road.
Alexander Smith and two other 22-year-olds were each fined £2,000 after dashcam footage was uploaded to YouTube of them speeding along the "Evo Triangle" route.
They were told by a judge at Mold Crown Court: "Each of you played an equal part in some reckless, dangerous and inconsiderate driving at the Evo Triangle.
"People are attracted to that area to drive at high speeds in part because of footage on the internet encouraging people to do so."
WATCH the footage here:
Recorder Gregory Bull QC said Smith, of Llanforda Mead, Oswestry, Lewis Gething, of Connah’s Quay, Flintshire,and Jak Kitchener, of Rushton, Blackburn, thought it would be fun to drive as fast as they could.
But the internet was their downfall after dashcam footage was uploaded to YouTube – and seen by police.
The defendants, who had been driving BMW and Kia cars, admitted dangerous driving on the roads near Cerrigydrudion.
Recorder Bull told them: "You were a danger to other potential road users.”
Each defendant - all aged 22 and of previous good character - was banned from driving for two years with extended tests ordered and must pay £1,476 costs.
The judge said the sentence should be “harsh” to punish the trio and discourage other young men from similar behaviour.
Prosecuting counsel Sion ap Mihangel said the Evo Triangle had a number of turns and could be challenging.
There were obvious risks to other road users as the men used public roads as a “racetrack” – cutting corners and crossing central white lines.
Smith’s barrister Umar Shahzad said he was a senior technician and due to go to Afghanistan at the end of the month. The defendant was remorseful.
Maria Brennan, defending, said Kitchener and Smith would also be punished by the RAF.
Recorder Bull said the men were of “impeccable” character.
He said: “They are stupid, immature young men who thought they would get a thrill out of driving at excessive speeds in the way they did. They are not likely to repeat it.”
North Wales police said the investigation commenced in July 2017 after footage was posted on YouTube by Jak Kitchener showing the trio driving at high speeds around the route, which comprises the A5, the B4501 and the A543 in the Cerrigydrudion and Pentrefoelas areas.
Sergeant Nicola Collins from Go Safe said: “We investigated the footage, which clearly shows very dangerous and irresponsible driving.
“We are fully aware of the concerns surrounding speeding vehicles travelling along the Evo Triangle route. It is an area which is regularly policed.
“Sadly, we have already seen fatalities on this route. It is an area where families regularly visit and they are being put at risk by the unreasonable actions of some drivers, such as Kitchener, Smith and Gething who used the road as a race track.
"Not only did they risk their own lives, but they also risked the lives of other road users.”
Police patrols have stopped Porsche drivers and other powerful cars.
Average speed cameras may be placed on a 20-mile stretch of roads where there have been several tragedies.
