A man has been jailed after he uploaded footage (scroll down for video) of himself driving dangerously on his motorbike in south London.
Kamal Richards, 25 (24.05.93), of Dylways, Southwark was sentenced to 15 months’ imprisonment on Tuesday, 5 February, at Croydon Crown Court after pleading guilty on the same day to dangerous driving.
He was also disqualified from driving for 31 months and will be required to complete an extended test to regain his licence.
The court heard how on 1 January 2016, Richards – a UKBikeLife member known as @WH05DAT – took part in the UK ‘Raise it Up’ New Year’s Ride Out.
UKBikeLife describes itself as: ‘a family of riders who just love to ride and express ourselves through our riding of mostly dirt bikes quads mopeds scooters superbikes’
They also say that: ‘
The ride started in Croydon at 14:00hrs and the riders completed a circuit from Croydon, Purley, Coulsdon via Reigate Hill back to Croydon over the course of an hour, in inclement weather conditions.
Richards filmed the event from a camera mounted on his helmet and uploaded the unedited footage onto a video uploading platform.
Throughout the course of the ride out, Richards filmed himself committing more than 30 road traffic offences, four of which could have, had a collision occurred, resulted in the death of himself or another.
The other offences included: contravening multiple red lights, riding on the offside of keep left signs – clearly marked by central reservations – deliberate obstruction of the highway, fending off priority traffic to ease the flow of the group he was riding in.
These offences fell outside of the statutory timeline but contributed to demonstrating the general behaviour and manner of riding displayed by Richards.
The footage showed that Richards was riding a black Honda motorcycle.
Whilst sentencing, the presiding Judge, Her Honour Judge Smaller, stated:
“You took part and committed an offence of dangerous driving in a ride out. I have seen the footage and have been unable to count myself how many were involved.
“The collective manner of the driving was largely unbecoming. It lasted approximately one hour – I have seen the lowlights of it.
“Wrong way round roundabouts, on the wrong side of the road, total disregard for other traffic in their rightful lane, sometimes wholly on the wrong side of the road, more than once travelled down the wrong side of the road at parts separated by central reservation, wrong way down a tunnel as other cars were entering. It is heart in the mouth material.”
At 14:32hrs on Ampere Way in Croydon, Richards rode on the offside carriageway separated by a solid divider through a tunnel, against oncoming traffic.
Three cars were waiting to enter the tunnel
If the approaching vehicles had not reacted positively, a
At 14:37hrs in Purley, he was seen to overtake two vehicles, positioned and indicating to turn right into a car park.
This manoeuvre was potentially dangerous as the stationary drivers would have been unlikely to perform a shoulder check and see the rider coming up the offside of the road.
At 15:19hrs, Richards contravened a red traffic light at speed on the junction of A217 Brighton Road with Tattenham Way.
Finally, at 15:21hrs, Richards was seen contravening a keep left sign on the approach to a junction on the A217 Brighton Road, junction with Bolters Lane.
He crossed the segregated southbound carriageway against traffic and proceeded onto the slip road on the far offside of the
Whilst travelling the wrong way against the traffic on the slip road, a car which was turning left from Bolters Lane onto Brighton Lane had to take evasive action by pulling across to its nearside to avoid the danger of the motorcycle on the wrong side of the road, travelling towards it at speed.
Richards was arrested on 24 January 2018 and was charged with four offences of driving a motor vehicle dangerously.
Police Sergeant Elizabeth Hockley, of the Roads and Transport Policing Command, said:
“Richards’ extremely dangerous driving could have easily resulted in serious injury or even death of himself or other road users. Even considering the time that has elapsed, this sentence must have some element of deterrence for those recording and posting this type of behaviour on social media. I also hope it sends out a strong message to others that driving in this manner will not be tolerated on London’s roads.”
Siwan Hayward, Director of Compliance, Policing and On-Street at Transport for London, said:
“The actions of Richards were dangerous and
“As part of our Vision Zero approach to eliminate death and serious injuries on London’s roads, we are working with the police to crack down on careless, illegal and dangerous driving.
“We welcome this sentencing and will continue to take these offences seriously and push for the strongest sentences possible.”
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