A careless motorcyclist who was followed by police through 20 mph back streets of Brighton while doing wheelies in the rain has been sentenced to five months in prison.
Video shows Ryan Burtenshaw, 24, being pursued by policemen in an unmarked police vehicle and eluding them by biking through construction zones in the well-known tourist area.
He didn’t stop when the police ultimately caught up with him; instead, he performed a wheelie in the drizzly streets.
Then, Burtenshaw accelerated through the 20 mph zone once again, squeaking by other cars and pedestrians.
He swerved through the construction zones and avoided the Special Enforcement Unit (SEU) officials.
He eventually acknowledged being the rider at the time of the offenses when authorities recognized him as the motorcycle’s registered keeper.
When Burtenshaw, a Brighton resident, came before Lewes Crown Court, he pleaded guilty to driving dangerously, failing to stop when told to do so by a police officer, operating a vehicle contrary to his license, and operating a vehicle without a valid insurance policy.
Burtenshaw’s riding went well short of what is expected of a cautious, attentive, and skilled driver, according to Judge Christine Laing KC.
He received a five-month prison sentence and a one-year, eight-month driving ban.
In accordance with the Criminal Courts Act, the court issued a Deprivation Order on his motorbike, which was also seized.
Once he is freed from jail and is no longer banned, Burtenshaw must pass a lengthy retest if he ever wants to ride or drive again.
“This case highlights our drive to identify criminals and to ensure that our roads and communities in Brighton and Hove are kept safe,” said Chief Inspector Andy Saville of the Sussex Police.
“In this instance, the criminal jeopardized both his own and everyone else’s safety.”
As a consequence, the courts have imprisoned him, stripped him of his driving privileges, and seized his car.