Swiss driver rapped for nighttime speeding spree

The 19 year-old had removed his number plates to avoid being identified as he repeatedly drove through two fixed speed traps near the Swiss capital Bern at speeds up to 40 kilometres per hour (27 miles per hour) above the limit.

However, a policeman who had dealt with him a day earlier recognised the car on the speed trap photographs, which included snaps of passengers making obscene gestures.

The youngster admitted he had drunk seven or eight beers before the speeding spree.

A court in Bern fined him 1,000 Swiss francs (650 euros) and handed down a four-year suspended prison sentence, while the passengers were ordered to appear before a minor's court.

< A sentence of four years for one night of fun where noone was harmed. Suspended or otherwise, this is pure bullshit. >