A BikeLife rider has been sentenced to 15 months and will have to take an extended test to regain his driving licence.

Kamal Richards, 25, 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.

Richards took part in the UK ‘Raise it Up’ New Year’s Ride Out on 1st January 2016, and filmed himself riding his Honda and committing more than 30 road traffic offences, four of which could have resulted in the death of himself or another, had there been a collision. He then uploaded the unedited footage to a social network, the clever boy, and was subsequently arrested in January 2018.

Other offences Richard committed 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 presiding Judge, Her Honour Judge Smaller, told Richards: “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.”

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.”