A British teenager, who filmed himself speeding at more than 140mph (225kmh), has been jailed for what experts described as "among the most reckless pieces of driving" they had ever seen.

Nathan Campbell, 18, used his handphone's video camera to film his driving.

The trainee mechanic recorded his speed by filming the dashboard dials as he drove his father's Toyota MR2 sports car down a highway, The Evening Standard reported.

He sent the clip to a friend, who in turn posted it on the popular video-sharing website, YouTube.

Prosecutor Sarah Statham told the court that Campbell was driving on the M65 between Colne and Blackburn in England when he was spotted by off-duty police officer Michael Holt.

He saw Campbell drive over the road shoulder to overtake another vehicle.

The red MR2 then came back onto the highway, forcing another car to swerve to avoid it.

It then went on to overtake several other vehicles.

Mr Holt took down the licence plate number of the speeding car. About a week later, he was told about the YouTube posting.

Campbell, who had passed his driving test after only eight lessons, had never received any highway driving lessons. He, however, had no previous convictions.

The YouTube clip showed the MR2's speedometer at 140mph. However, the court was told that there may have been a 20mph fault on it.

Campbell told the police when he was arrested that he hadn?t sent the video to YouTube but to a friend who posted it on the website.

Campbell's lawyer, Mr Phillip Holden, said: "It hardly needs saying but this was an act of gross stupidity and something my client bitterly regrets."

Judge Anthony Russell banned Campbell from driving for three years and ordered him to take an extended retest.