Scooter rider ripped off crash helmet and threw it at police pursuing him through Hull

A tearaway scooter rider who tried to escape from the police during a hair-raising chase recklessly took off his crash helmet while hurtling along the road and deliberately threw it straight into the path of the pursuing police car. Soon after the "very dangerous act" of throwing the safety helmet, panicking rider Bradley Wood crashed the stolen scooter because of the sheer speed that he was doing. He desperately tried to run away but he was soon caught and arrested, Hull Crown Court[1] heard.

Wood, 20, of Staveley Road, off Marfleet Lane, east Hull, admitted aggravated vehicle taking and having no insurance and driving licence on June 24 last year. Benjamin Donnell, prosecuting, said that a woman's orange WK Bikes SX 125cc scooter was left secured and wheel-locked in York on June 8 last year but she returned the next day at 11am to find that it was missing. She reported the theft to the police.

On June 24, police in Hull received reports that a bike had failed to stop and a search was carried out for it in the Bridlington[2] Avenue area. It was seen in the Wincolmlee and Fountain Street areas and was followed. The police car was travelling at 51mph in a 30mph area but it could not even keep up with the scooter, being ridden by Wood.

"The defendant took off the helmet that he was wearing and threw it into the path of the police officers," said Mr Donnell. "He was travelling at such a speed that he lost control and crashed onto the floor." Wood ran off from the police but they caught up with him and arrested him. He was offered medical treatment because he had cuts and grazes on his head and hands because of falling off the scooter.

Wood told police: "I don't know why I took my helmet off at that speed." Checks on the scooter revealed that it belonged to the woman who had reported it missing. Wood was taken to Clough Road police station and he was asked whether he stole the moped in York. He said that he had an alibi from his friend but he made no comment to all questions.

"There was a deliberate decision to ignore the rules of the road," said Mr Donnell. Throwing the helmet into the path of the police was "a very dangerous act". The bike was a complete write-off.

Connor Stuart, mitigating, said that Wood had previously had an alcohol problem but his drinking had "tailed off significantly" and this was not something that he would struggle with again. Wood was confident that, with support, he could control his drinking. He had been assessed as suitable for an alcohol treatment programme and he accepted that there was cause for concern.

He had no previous convictions. Judge Kate Rayfield said that it was a "30-second period of dangerous driving" but it could have ended up much worse than it did. "You were driving a stolen moped," said Judge Rayfield. "You know that you could have killed yourself that night but that would have been your problem." He could, however, also have killed somebody else.

"That's the problem with dangerous driving," said Judge Rayfield. "It could lead to serious consequences but this was an isolated incident and you have never been in trouble before." Unemployed Wood was given 30 days' rehabilitation and was ordered to pay GBP450 compensation to the woman for her insurance excess. He was banned from driving for one year and will have to pass an extended driving test before he can drive legally again.

"It will be a first test for you," said Judge Rayfield.

References

1. ^ Hull Crown Court (www.hulldailymail.co.uk)
2. ^ Bridlington (www.hulldailymail.co.uk)