Magistrates slam speeding boater

Published: Thursday, 11 March 2010
MAGISTRATES at Maidenhead Court landed a speeding boater with a total of  £4,600 for speeding on the Thames.

Mark Lancaster was found guilty at the Court of navigating a speed boat at an unsafe speed without due care for other people, boats and wildlife. He was fined £500 and also ordered to pay £4,026 compensation to a boat owner whose craft suffered damage as a direct result of the excessive speed. He also had to pay prosecution costs of £60, and the Court ordered a victim surcharge of £15, Alan Tilbury tells us.

He had been prosecuted by the Environment Agency for failing to navigate a boat at a safe speed and without due care and caution along the Thames, and was found guilty.

The Court heard that in August 2009 Mark Lancaster had been navigating his boat the Royal T between Boveney Lock and Ruddles Pool (pictured), when it was driven at such a speed that it caused extensive damage to a nearby boat, inconvenienced other boaters, and endangered the safety of other river users.

Waves created by the speeding boat caused other vessels  to bang about, with one hitting the river bed, causing costly engine damage,  with the owner awarded £4,026 compensation.