“The clown on the bike doesn't hurt anyone” says Jeremy Vine about wheelie cyclist branded a ‘bike yob’ by newspapers

In yesterday’s live blog, we reported how a number of newspaper websites recently published a video of a young cyclist doing wheelies through London who was involved in a collision and angry confrontation with a Mercedes driver. The boy’s antics saw him branded a ‘yob’ but broadcaster Jeremy Vine took to Twitter to draw attention to the threat the “clown” posed relative to one behind the wheel of a car.

Last week footage of a group of youths cycling through a Brighton Asda was published by a number of national newspaper websites with the coverage resulting in a police appeal for victims.

The video has since been deleted and the uploader, Wheelie Kay, has posted an apology.

However, those same newspapers appear to have been trawling back through Wheelie Kay’s YouTube channel with the video of the collision with the Mercedes driver dating back to July.

Vine tweeted a snippet of the video on Thursday night.

Amazing video. Lesson here is that there are clowns who cycle and clowns who drive. The clown on the bike doesn't hurt anyone.
Put him in a car — different story.pic.twitter.com/RBqMw5nFbb

— Jeremy Vine (@theJeremyVine) August 15, 2019

Vine added: “Had he behaved like that at the wheel of a car the outcome would have been 500 times worse.”

According to The Mail, Vine “sparked fury after showing support for a biker yob who blamed a driver after he collided with a car when he pulled a wheelie on a main road.”

The Times says Vine has “angered motorists after defending a cyclist who filmed himself crashing into a car while performing a wheelie.”

Vine later responded to the Mail story.

What I said:
“The clown on the bike doesn't hurt anyone.”
What they say I said:
“Clowns on bikes don't hurt anyone.”

Hey @MailOnline, we see you. Twisting words is not pretty.

“Jeremy Vine sparks fury after BACKING bike stunt” https://t.co/oLrozPcuq1 pic.twitter.com/JXZuMnZFF5

— Jeremy Vine (@theJeremyVine) August 16, 2019

Brighton and Hove News reports that Sussex Police have announced two arrests in connection with the now-deleted Brighton Asda video, the full version of which also showed the group riding around elsewhere in the town.

A spokesperson said “Brighton and Hove police have made two arrests in their investigation into anti-social behaviour involving a number of youths on bikes at a Brighton supermarket.

“Police responded to a report of threats made by youths at Asda, at Brighton Marina, on the afternoon of (Sunday) 23 June.

“On Friday morning (16 August) officers from Brighton went to an address in Greenwich, south east London, and arrested a 19-year-old man and a 12-year-old boy.

“Both were arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm. The 19-year old was also arrested on suspicion of threatening behaviour and dangerous cycling.

“They are currently in custody in Brighton for interview and further inquiries.

“The arrests for grievous bodily harm relate to an incident in Madeira Drive in which a passer-by fell and sustained a broken wrist and a broken rib in a confrontation with youths from the group.”

Superintendent Julia Pope said the force hoped to make further arrests.

“We have made it very clear that we will not tolerate this type of behaviour.

“We have been working tirelessly to track down this group, with the assistance of the Metropolitan Police. Our investigation is continuing and we hope to make further arrests.

“We are keen to encourage any victims or witnesses who may have been in the area of the Asda store at Brighton Marina at around 4.30pm on (Sunday) 23 June to contact us.

“If you can assist in our investigation in any way, please report it online or call 101, quoting serial 924 of 23/06.

“Local policing teams continue to regularly patrol the Marina area and work closely with the local business community.”