Teenager who rode through Brighton Asda fined for dangerous cycling

A teenager who was part of a group of youths that cycled through an Asda store in Brighton has been fined £440 for dangerous cycling and £440 for using threatening or abusive words.

On June 23, police responded to a report of threats made by the youths at the Asda store at Brighton Marina. Footage of the incident was later uploaded to YouTube by one of the group under the title “The Maddest Day Ever In Brighton”.

Following widespread media coverage of the video, police appealed for victims.

The video showed a series of incidents in and around Brighton. In the section that saw the group ride through Asda, one woman appeared to grab hold of a cyclist while shouting for security. After wriggling free, the boy punched another shopper in the chest.

The youths were also accused of stealing biscuits and cans of Red Bull as they left the store. The video uploader, Wheelie Kay, subsequently posted an apology.

In August, Sussex Police made two arrests on suspicion of grievous bodily harm – a 19-year-old man and a 12-year-old boy – relating to a confrontation in Madeira Drive that featured elsewhere in the video during which a passer-by had fallen and sustained a broken wrist and broken rib.

Police imposed placed bail conditions restricting both from entering Sussex. Last month it was reported that the 19-year-old had failed to answer bail.

Earlier this month, 19-year-old Keith Mujuru was arrested in connection with what took place in the supermarket.

On Wednesday, Mujuru, of Southwark, London, appeared at Crawley Magistrates' Court and pleaded guilty to dangerous cycling and using threatening or abusive words or behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress.

The Argus reports that Mujuru asked his mum to pay his fines.

Asked to explain his behaviour, he said: “It was my friend’s birthday and we said ‘let’s go to Brighton’. We were chilling at the beach then got a little bit drunk.”

Detective Chief Inspector Mike Ashcroft said: "The behaviour of Mujuru and the other youths that afternoon was totally unacceptable. They came down from London and decided to cycle through the store frightening customers and staff, film it and put it on social media.

"We worked closely with our colleagues at the Metropolitan Police in order to fully investigate these offences.

"We will not tolerate this type of threatening and anti-social behaviour in our community."