A SCHIZOPHRENIC who sped from police at more than 100mph on a stolen motorbike was given a suspended jail sentence after a judge said he had shown great achievement in battling his illness.

Victor May, 34, of Rutland Avenue, High Wycombe, was sentenced at Aylesbury Crown Court on Friday for aggravated vehicle taking, failing to surrender bail, driving while disqualified, going equipped for theft and handling stolen goods.

John Riley, prosecuting, told the court how May drove a 1200cc Yamaha motorcycle, stolen in London in May 1999, on the M40 at High Wycombe at speeds of up to 97mph on June 28, 1999.

May then accelerated to speeds of more than 100mph when police tailed him through Stokenchurch on the A40.

Mr Riley said police officers found him in a builders' yard where May tried to hide the machine under a tarpaulin and claimed he had just got off a bus and was waiting for a mate. The officers recognised him and he was arrested.

But the court heard that after May was bailed he drove a Vauxhall Astra car without consent and while disqualified in Lane End before he was again arrested this time in possession of two stolen car stereos and a yellow screwdriver in October 1999.

May denied all the offences but was convicted by Wycombe magistrates in January last year. However, May subsequently failed to attend Aylesbury Crown Court for sentencing.

Basil Hillman, defending, told the court that since May's release from jail in November 1998 he had found it difficult to settle down but since the recent offences he had stayed out of trouble.

Judge Daniel Rodwell QC, sentencing, told May that although his crimes crossed the custody threshold there were "exceptional circumstances".

He added: "You are a person who has suffered from a schizophrenic illness and have apparently managed to come through that. To overcome that is quite an achievement."

May was sentenced to a total of 21 months' jail, suspended for two years and banned from driving for 12 months.