Judge issues warning to dangerous bikers on streets of Welsh city

A judge has warned people who ride motorbikes dangerously on the streets of Swansea communities can expect prison sentences. He said those who think it is "fun and exciting" to ride in such a manner and to put the safety of other road users at risk need to hear the message "loud and clear" that such behaviour carries consequences. The judge made the comments during the sentencing of three young men who caused "mayhem" riding their unregistered off-road motorbikes through Mumbles on a busy Saturday night.

Keiran Paton, Fraser Saunders, and Joshua Miller - aged 18, 19, and 20 respectively - were caught following a police pursuit involving an unmarked police motorbike and vehicle, and the use of a "stinger" device to deflate the tyres on their scrambler bikes. The trio had spent five days on remand in HMP Swansea while the judge considered their sentences, an experience the judge said he trusted they would not want to repeat any time soon. In handing down the sentences the judge acknowledged his decision would be "disappointing" for some people in Swansea.

Swansea Crown Court [1] had previously heard heard that on the night of Saturday, January 27 police received reports of a group of five motorbikes being ridden antisocially in the Swansea [2] Marina area. Caitlin Brazel, prosecuting, said at just after 10pm an officer on an unmarked police motorcycle encountered the group - consisting of three off-road bikes and two road bikes - on Trawler Road, and followed them as they made their way out of the marina and onto Oystermouth Road where he was joined by a colleague in an unmarked car.

The scrambler bikers then made off along Oystermouth Road away from the city centre at speeds in excess of 50mph overtaking a number of vehicles and going through a red traffic light as they did so.

The police officers activated the blue lights and the sirens on their bike and car, and a pursuit ensued. The chase continued into and through Mumbles before the bikers turned around in Bracelet Bay car park and headed back the way they had come, going through a red light at the pedestrian crossing outside Joe's ice cream parlour along the way. A police team laying in wait on the outskirts of the village then deployed a "stinger" device which successfully punctured the tyres on the three machines but the trio continued to ride on with deflated tyres as they headed back towards Swansea, at times riding on the wrong side of the busy road. For the latest court reports, sign up to our crime newsletter here [5]

Saunders and Paton were arrested after pulling into the Blackpill car park while Miller was spotted riding along the seafront footpath on the opposite side of Mumbles Road - he was caught a short time later loading his bike into the back of a van. The court heard officers examined the recovered bikes - none of which were registered for use on the roads - and spotted the vehicle identification number or VIN on Paton's ride had been scratched off. Subsequent checks showed the machine had been stolen from Brighton in Sussex.

Since being stolen the bike had sustained damage which has cost the rightful owner more than GBP5,800 to put right. Joshua Miller, of Llangorse Road, Penlan [6], Swansea, Keiron Paton, of Pen y Mor Road, Penlan, Swansea, and Fraser Saunders, of Cockett Road, Cockett, Swansea, had all previously pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and driving without insurance when they appeared in the dock for sentencing. Saunders had also pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified and Miller and Paton to driving without a licence.

Paton had further admitted handling stolen goods. None of the defendants have any previous convictions - the court heard Saunders' disqualification came as an automatic revocation of his licence by the DVLA after he picked up six penalty points for speeding on the motorway within two years of passing his test. You can read what the defendants' barrister said on their behalf here [7]. Judge Paul Thomas KC said a number of areas of Swansea were "plagued" by people riding motorbikes noisily around the streets, and said the impressiveness of the noise was usually in inverse proportion to the impressiveness of the people riding the bikes.

But he said the current case was not about noise, it was about an organised ride by "inadequate, immature" people who "for kicks" rode their bikes without any regard for the safety of others. He told the defendants they had ridden unregistered and uninsured off-road bikes through the busy hospitality area of Mumbles on a Saturday night dangerously and at speed, and without any care for other road users. Judge Thomas said: "Make no mistake about it.

Driving in the manner you three displayed that night results in prison sentences. Anyone who drives like that can expect prison sentences - that's the message which needs to be heard loud and clear by those who think it is fun and exciting to ride motorbikes without regard to the safety of others". The judge noted the trio had been on remand in Swansea prison for five days and he said he truly hoped it was not an experience they wished to repeat anytime soon.

The judge said he recognised the sentences he was about to pass "would be a disappointment for a number of people in Swansea" but said given the ages of the defendants, their lack of previous convictions, the contents of the pre-sentence report, the fact they had "tasted" custody, and the imposition guidelines for immediate and suspended sentences, he would not be returning the defendants to prison. With discounts for their guilty pleas Saunders was sentenced to a total of 48 weeks detention in a young offenders institution suspended for 18 months, Paton to 40 weeks detention suspended for 18 months, and Miller to 24 weeks suspended for 18 months. Saunders was disqualified from driving for three years, and Paton and Miller for 18 months, and each defendant was ordered to complete a rehabilitation course and to abide by a nightly curfew for the next three months.

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References

^ Swansea Crown Court (www.walesonline.co.uk)
^ Swansea (www.walesonline.co.uk)
^ Mum stole daughters' GBP50,000 inheritance out of 'greed and spite' (www.walesonline.co.uk)
^ 'Disturbing' prosecution of photographer arrested in street is dropped day before trial (www.walesonline.co.uk)
^ For the latest court reports, sign up to our crime newsletter here (www.walesonline.co.uk)
^ Penlan (www.walesonline.co.uk)
^ You can read what the defendants' barrister said on their behalf here (www.walesonline.co.uk)