Police have released a shocking image showing a reckless biker tearing up parkland on an off-road motorcycle – with a toddler perched on his lap.
The man was spotted by police helicopter in Coventry as we launched another Bank Holiday blitz on people who cause concern in our communities.
Shocking helicopter footage shows the toddler perched on the reckless rider’s knee
Shocking helicopter footage shows the toddler perched on the reckless rider’s knee
Our Traffic Unit had additional police bikers out over the long weekend looking for anti-social louts riding off-road bikes illegally on roads and grassland.
They seized a total of nine bikes…including this mini-moto spotted on Sunday being ridden by a 28-year-old man with his two-year-old child on his knee.
The man handed the child to family members on realising he was being monitored overhead before speeding off in a failed bid to out-run the helicopter.
He was detained near Old Church Lane, Longford, where the bike was seized.
Police issued him with a Notice of Intended prosecution for careless driving and riding a bike in a dangerous condition. Police will liaise with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) over the possibility of additional charges.
Referrals have also been made to child services due to the potential harm the child was subjected to on the bike.
Police seized nine off-road bikes over the weekend in our continued campaign against lout riders
Police seized nine off-road bikes over the weekend in our campaign against lout riders
Traffic Sergeant Mitch Darby, said: “It’s hard to believe anyone would expose any child, let alone their own, to such danger. The child was balanced precariously on the rider’s lap, obviously with no helmet or protective clothing, as he rode across grassland.
“It doesn’t bear thinking about what could have happened had he lost control or the child fallen from the bike.
“Apparently the bike was a birthday present – but Police have now seized it and will be looking to crush it. Bikes like this cannot be ridden legally on public land; they can only be ridden on private land with the landowner’s permission. And they cannot be ridden on our roads.
Two quad bikes were stopped and seized on the A34 in Shirley on Sunday afternoon, including one being ridden the wrong was down the carriageway.
This 19-year-old was arrested for dangerous driving after a quad was ridden on the wrong side of the road
This 19-year-old was arrested for dangerous driving
A 19-year-old was arrested for aggravated vehicle taking and dangerous driving; he’s been released under investigation pending advice from the CPS.
The other seven bikers have all been summoned to court for driving offences and their bikes seized.