Joe Onley, aged 23, was spotted riding recklessly by a passing police aircraft – speeding, pulling wheelies, spinning his rear tire, and dangerously overtaking other vehicles as he raced from the Hucknall area towards Ollerton.

Highly trained police pursuit drivers struggled to stay in sight of him as he drove at high speed on the afternoon of Friday 15 April last year.

Initially, he was unaware the police were following him, but immediately turned and sped away when he spotted a police car.

Guided by the crew of the aircraft, officers finally caught up with him in the village of Kelham.

He then attempted a U-turn and mounted a pavement – colliding with officers and falling from his bike at low speed.

Onley, who was uninsured and riding on false plates, then tried to flee on foot – diving headlong over a fence and a hedge before running through the grounds of a farm.

He was no match, however, for the National Police Air Service eye in the sky and was quickly detained by officers on the ground.

Onley, of Nottingham Road, Hucknall, later admitted to dangerous driving, driving without insurance, and fraudulently using a registration mark.

Appearing at Nottingham Crown Court on Tuesday he was handed a nine-month prison sentence suspended for two years.

He was also ordered to complete 180 hours of unpaid work, ordered to pay £350 in costs, and was disqualified from driving for two years.

PC Sarah Clifton, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “This was an appalling display of riding that could easily have ended in tragedy.

“Onley not only put himself in danger on that day, but also every other road user. His behaviour was utterly inexcusable and I am pleased he has now been held to account.”