Craig Moore thought he had outsmarted the speed camera which photographed him as he rushed through Greater Manchester. He went home, put together an explosive device with a substance normally used to weld railway lines, returned to the scene, and blew it up. Evidence destroyed. Fine avoided.
What the 28-year-old railway worker from Doncaster did not realise was that images of his van speeding through Mottram Road, Hyde, were stored on a disk in the base of the camera and survived unscathed. But, worse still, the blast triggered the camera mechanism to take a second picture of his van and its registration number. Now, instead of a speeding fine, he faces 10 years in jail.
Moore, who already has previous convictions for driving while disqualified, having no insurance and car theft, admitted destroying property at Minshull Street crown court, Manchester, yesterday.
Had he simply accepted the original speeding offence it is likely he would have been fined £60.
While none of the circumstances surrounding his action were aired in open court, sources close to the case said Moore already had several points on his licence and feared losing it if he was given a further three points. As a consequence, he would also lose his job.
"He went to great lengths to cover his tracks and escape the sack," one court source said ... But blowing up the speed camera really takes the biscuit."
So, after the camera captured him speeding on August 14 last year, he acquired a quantity Thermite, a powdery mixture of aluminium and iron oxide that gives out enormous heat once ignited.
The blast caused £11,700 worth of damage.
Moore has been remanded conditional bail until September 6 when he will be sentenced.

If I'd been the judge I think I'd have lost control of my bladder laughing

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That is a bit much. I say, put him on the sidewalk permanently. No more driving. Ever. That would be a bummer for him, but it beats doing time.