Motorcycle Thief Launched From Stolen Bike

Karma has caught up with a motorcycle thief from Bexhill, as they were spectacularly launched over the roof of another vehicle after colliding with it while riding a stolen motorbike.

The incident took place at the junction of Cranston Avenue and Eastwood Road, at around 1:30pm in June this year. After failing to give way at a junction (Darwin Award nominee for sure!), he proceeded to crash at speed into a vehicle on Eastwood Road. The impact was strong enough to throw him from the bike, sending him over the back of the vehicle, and into the road.

Sadly the bike seems to have been written off in the incident, while the police make no mention of the condition of the car or those people travelling in it. Equally sad it seems the rider of the bike escaped without injury, something which would surely have made him think twice about undertaking such endeavours in the future.

The rider of the stolen motorcycle was arrested a couple of days later on suspicion of aggravated vehicle taking, driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence, using a vehicle without insurance, and for driving whilst disqualified.

On July 9, the teenager appeared at Hastings Youth Court, charged with handling stolen goods, driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence, using a vehicle without insurance, and for driving whilst disqualified. He was then bailed from court pending his next hearing.

On August 12 at Hastings Magistrates' Court, he entered a guilty plea to all offences with the exception of handling stolen goods which remains on file. He was sentenced the same day to 26 weeks imprisonment.

The officer in charge of the case, PC Grant Freeman said:

“These crimes have a significant impact, not just on the victims who lose their vehicles, but on the wider community's sense of safety and security.

“The teenager involved in this case was fortunate to escape the collision without serious injury, or even losing their life, highlighting the dangers of irresponsible driving.

“Excess speed is the cause of one in three collisions in Sussex, and speeding is one of the main ‘fatal five’ factors in why people are killed or seriously injured on our roads.”

Picture Credit - Sussex Police