Accurate News Report Shock

[icowden]

Yep - you read it right. The Beeb have published an e-bike story making it clear that the e-bike had been deregulated and converted into an Electric Motorbike.

Electric motorbike rider given 12-month suspended sentence after 'brutal' hit-and-run​

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvgqlvj71jko
The court heard that Willetts handed himself into the police two days after the incident.
Police investigators discovered illegal modifications had been made to the bike, changing it from a push bike to an electric motorbike.

 

[wafter]

Pathetic sentence though. What sort of deterrent is that?

 

[Alex321]

Pathetic sentence though. What sort of deterrent is that?

Well he was also given a 2.5 year driving ban, with an extended re-test required to get his licence back after that, and 150 hours unpaid community service, so it is a bit more than just a 12 month suspended sentence.

And pretty much in line with most dangerous driving convictions that don't result in death.

 

[wafter]

Well he was also given a 2.5 year driving ban, with an extended re-test required to get his licence back after that, and 150 hours unpaid community service, so it is a bit more than just a 12 month suspended sentence.

And pretty much in line with most dangerous driving convictions that don't result in death.

Fair enough; still seems pretty light considering he left the guy for dead after hitting him with an illegal vehicle..

 

[Gillstay]

Yep, he says he's sorry, but it took him two days to be so, so he worked it out carefully for himself.
Also how many ways was he wrong, he hit the victim, he drove off, he didn't report the incident, he was wrong way up a one way, went the wrong way round a roundabout, had no license, had modified the bike.
Then his dad says he made a mistake, about 7 is more like it. I feel its rather light, but lets hope he learns.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Then his dad says he made a mistake

The mistake was having the son

 

[steverob]

Well he was also given a 2.5 year driving ban, with an extended re-test required to get his licence back after that

What's the point in that ban? He was already driving without a license anyway, so clearly it doesn't matter to him whether he has one or not.

The judge might as well have said "you're banned from going to Saturn for five years" for all the difference it makes.

 

[Alex321]

What's the point in that ban? He was already driving without a license anyway, so clearly it doesn't matter to him whether he has one or not.

The judge might as well have said "you're banned from going to Saturn for five years" for all the difference it makes.

Well just maybe, the knowledge that he goes straight to prison if caught again in the next 12 months might deter him at least for that long.

And while he must have known the modifications made the bike illegal, he may not have known that meant he needed a driving licence to use it. There is no suggestion in the article that he has otherwise been driving without a licence. ("no previous convictions")

 

[Drago]

Pathetic sentence though. What sort of deterrent is that?

Not only the deterrent, but it doesnt keep the public safe from this ****bags antics for long. He'll be at it again once he's out, and every day hes modelling a wedding dress for Bubba is another day the public are safe from him.

 

[brommieinkorea]

Not only the deterrent, but it doesnt keep the public safe from this ****bags antics for long. He'll be at it again once he's out, and every day hes modelling a wedding dress for Bubba is another day the public are safe from him.

Wasn't it a suspended sentence ? No jail time on that. ? Almost as lame a punishment if he'd done it in Texas.

 

[Alex321]

Not only the deterrent, but it doesnt keep the public safe from this ****bags antics for long. He'll be at it again once he's out, and every day hes modelling a wedding dress for Bubba is another day the public are safe from him.

I'm not so sure about that. He wasn't driving while disqualified, and had no previous convictions. For somebody like this guy seems to be, it might just be enough deterrent to stop him doing it again.

It is very possible he didn't even know that it classed as a motor vehicle once he had modified it. He must have known it was ilegal to ride it, but I suspect very few of the general public know it becomes a driving offence to ride one without tax/insurance/MOT/Licence. That aspect of the law is not well enough publicised IMO.

And while I know ignorance of the law is no excuse, and it was quite right he was convicted, I do think there is a fair chance he won't reoffend.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

The sale of these motor bikes ought to be banned except through a proper motorbike dealer. Plus when purchasing a driving licence must be produced and the bike licensed, insured, and with number plates before they can be picked up.

 

[Alex321]

The sale of these motor bikes ought to be banned except through a proper motorbike dealer. Plus when purchasing a driving licence must be produced and the bike licensed, insured, and with number plates before they can be picked up.

Agreed.

But this one had been illegally modified after purchase, which you can't do much to stop, only catch them afterwards.

 

[Electric_Andy]

The article wording gives me some faith into how knowledge is slowly spreading to the wider crowd. The sentencing is about right I think; having an extended driving test would involve lots of lessons and hopefully an acquired appreciation for road safety and the highway code. Plus the threat of being jailed if he tries riding another motor vehicle illegally (and stupidly).

Loads of electric motorbikes are still out there, and I don't think anything will work as a deterrent; the (mostly) young people riding these things are not going to be glued to news reports so will never see the results of such reckless behaviour. Perhaps anyone caught should all be shown footage of similar incidents, including fatalities, as some sort of shock treatment. And then be forced to read what punishments the corresponding miscreants received and how it affected their life. And how the victims families were affected

 

[Big John]

As long as there are no visible coppers out there this will never stop. Illegal very fast ebikes are becoming the norm around here as well as scooters. The speeds are deadly fast (I'm guessing a few are doing around 60mph) and thanks to the heatwaves we've had their only protection against serious injury or death is a pair of shorts. This is now the country we all live in. I fear for my grandkids. I sincerely hope I'm wrong.