An 18-year-old Birmingham man caught riding a high-powered e-bike on a pavement collided with a parked car while disqualified and without insurance, a court heard. Gianni Blake, of Parkeston Crescent, Kingstanding, was spotted by police on Brookvale Road on June 16 riding a Sur-Ron, a type of electric dirt bike, and dodging pedestrians before the collision.
Blake, who had four previous convictions including for similar offences, pleaded guilty at Birmingham Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, September 8, to driving without due care and attention, driving without insurance, and driving while disqualified. The court heard that he had initially ridden past the officers, and because they did not react, he did not think there was a problem.
Police patrol encounter
Prosecuting, Ms Begum said: "On June 16, officers were on patrol and found the defendant riding an e-bike on the pavement. He had to avoid pedestrians and increased his speed. He began driving along and collided into a parked vehicle. Officers managed to arrest him. He didn't have valid insurance."
The court was told that Blake's previous convictions, which included similar offences, aggravated his latest crime. His solicitor argued that Blake was on his way to see his cousin because the Sur-Ron "wasn't working properly" and had been purchased online for a low price.
Defence and mitigation
Blake's solicitor said: "He has pleaded guilty at the first opportunity so I ask for full credit. He is just 18 years of age, he is someone who is relatively young in his outlook of life. All of his convictions were when he was a youth. There are some type of low level bikes and they ride on a regular basis. He purchased it online for cheap. It wasn't working properly he had gone to see his cousin to see the bike.
"He has gone past the police officers once, he didn't have an initial reaction from them so he didn't think there was a problem. When he was pulled over. He got worried thinking they were going to ram him off the road. He said it was not as bad as the police officers suggested, he [only] touched the car. He found himself trapped in a local garden with police officers arresting him."
The solicitor added that "there was no real damage or injury caused."
Judge's warning and sentencing
Deputy District Judge Hinder told Blake: "I have to take into account bad driving. Nothing that has been done in the youth court has seemed to stop you breaking the rules of the road."
The judge adjourned sentencing until November 10 for a pre-sentence report to be prepared.
