FIVE men caught speeding on jet skis and speedboats along the River Colne have been fined hundreds of pounds.

They were caught travelling faster than eight nautical miles per hour, about 9mph, near Brightlingsea marina.

The operation on Saturday, July 13 was aimed at cutting antisocial activity on a day there were hundreds of people on the town’s waterfront.

Rebekah Straughan, prosecuting on behalf of Colchester Council, said each of the defendants had breached byelaw three of the Harbour of Colchester Byelaws, introduced in 1985.

David Carter, 36, of Richard Avenue, Wivenhoe, had already been told to leave the area because he had breached an antisocial behaviour order he was made subject to in May.

Miss Straughan said Sgt Simon Lofting had seen Carter speeding at up to 30 nautical mph on a Yamaha Wave Runner jet ski near Brightlingsea open air pool.

She said: “Mr Carter is well known by police for disorderly behaviour.

“He had already been removed from the area by police as his behaviour had breached his Asbo.

“His use of the jet ski caused excessive wash as he sped around very close to the open air swimming pool.”

Carter eventually agreed to come to shore, but refused to sign a form accepting the charges.

He was sent a summons to appear at court, but failed to turn up.

In his absence, Colchester Magistrates’ Court found the case was proved and Carter was ordered to pay fines and costs totalling £470.

Thomas Wells, 29, of Theydon Bois, Essex, did not respond to a summons and the case was proven in his absence for speeding on a jet ski.

Miss Straughan said he and two friends were pulled over after being seen travelling from Point Clear along the Colne at speeds faster than 30 nautical mph.

Wells was ordered to pay £420.

Three more men wrote to the court to admit responsibility.

Steven Mann, 29 of Yare Avenue, Witham, and Michael McNamara, 37, of Hazelville Road, London both admitted speeding on jetskis and were each fined £370.

Stuart Rider, 42, of Peto Avenue, Colchester, accepted he had been speeding on a Crowline Bow Rider speedboat and was also told to pay £370.

Annie Feltham, councillor responsible for leisure services, said: “Speed limits on our rivers are in place to ensure the safety of all river users, whether they are on jet skis, speed boats or swimming.

“These defendants were three times over the speed limit.”