Motorbike rider with ‘FOK ULEZ’ sticker punched naked cyclist in head before assaulting police officers

A fuming motorbike rider punched a cyclist taking part in a World Naked Bike Ride, causing him to crash and breaking his e-bike, before assaulting two police officers attempting to arrest him at a pub, a court heard this week.

The incident took place on Saturday 9 August, during Colchester’s annual World Naked Bike Ride event.

Similar World Naked Bike Rides – which, as the name suggests, involve participants cycling in the nude – take place across Britain every year, as part of an international campaign protesting car culture and dependency on oil, as well as highlighting the vulnerability of riding a bicycle.

Cyclists and onlookers often report a carnival atmosphere at the events, though they do occasionally come in for criticism from some politicians, with one mayoral candidate calling for the ride to be banned on the grounds of “common decency” back in 2023.

> World Naked Bike Ride cyclists defend protest ride in face of calls for ban

This week, Colchester Magistrates’ Court heard that this year’s Colchester edition of the World Naked Bike Ride, which was moved from its traditional July slot to August due to inclement weather, was marred by an attack on one of its participants by a passing motorcyclist, who later claimed he assumed the cyclists were “sexual predators”.

Grace Court, prosecuting, told the court that the cyclist who was attacked saw the defendant, Lee Turnage, making indecent gestures and “shaping his fist” as he rode his motorcycle past the group on Hythe Hill, the Echo reports.

According to the cyclist’s account, he heard Turnage’s engine revving before seeing the motorcyclist perform a U-turn to head back up the hill. 46-year-old Turnage then punched the cyclist in the head, causing him to crash.

The victim says he is still recovering from the injuries he suffered over a month ago, and that his e-bike was so badly damaged in the crash that it was deemed unsafe, leaving him without a mode of transport.

“I’ve been part of the charity bike ride since 2012,” the cyclist said in a victim impact statement. “Nothing like this has ever happened. I’m not fearful of taking part in future rides as this would mean the defendant had won.”

The incident was captured by one of the participants’ bike cameras, showing Turnage riding a motorbike with a ‘FOK ULEZ’ decal clearly visible (though no such ultra-low emission zone exists in Colchester).

The motorbike was later tracked down by police officers to the Leather Bottle pub on Shrub End Road, where Turnage’s helmet and rucksack, recognisable from the footage, were also spotted.

However, when they tried to arrest him, the 46-year-old resisted, pushing one of the officers. The court heard that Turnage lashed out after one of the officers grabbed him by the wrist. CCTV footage of the altercation was played in court this week, showing the struggle between Turnage and the officers.

Mitigating, Katie O’Connor told the court that the two incidents were “completely out of character” and that Turnage “wasn’t in the best headspace that day”.

“He is caring for his grandmother and wanted to go for a haircut,” O’Connor said. “That was his intention. He was taken aback when he saw the men on bikes, fully naked. He wasn’t aware it was an event.”

According to O’Connor, Turnage believed the cyclists to be “sexual predators”.

“He is very remorseful, ashamed, and shocked by his behaviour,” O’Connor said. “He is disgusted with his behaviour, he respects police and knows they are doing their job.”

Following the incident at the pub, Turnage returned to apologise to the owners for his behaviour, the court heard.

The 46-year-old admitted two counts of assault causing actual bodily harm, dangerous driving, driving without insurance, criminal damage, assault of a constable in execution of their duty, and carrying a bladed article in a public place.

The magistrates decided this week that their sentencing powers were not enough to deal with his case, with Turnage now set to be sentenced by Ipswich Crown Court in November.

This isn’t the first time that cyclists riding their bikes in the UK nude have been targeted by angry passers-by.

In 2022, a marshal at Coventry’s World Naked Bike Ride suffered a broken elbow in an attack by masked aggressors who kicked two riders off their bikes.

The incident occurred as the group of around 40 made their way from the Criterion Theatre through the city. As they approached Broomfield Road two attackers riding what appeared to be powerful electric bikes or trail dirt bikes overtook the group, kicking the event marshal and organiser Joe Swanton-Fallowell off their bikes, bringing down other riders in the process.

“I landed on my arm and immediately felt pain; I could not fully rotate my wrist and we called 999 for West Midlands Police to attend,” the marshal told road.cc at the time.

“The attackers waited on the other side of the junction, and police originally said they would arrive immediately. Other members of the group photographed the motorcyclists, but ten minutes later the police called back to say they were not prepared to attend. The louts then rode off.”

Later that year, two tandem cyclists who were riding the length of Britain in the nude to raise awareness of rewilding and mental health, were struck by a motorist who “deliberately” swerved into their path as they passed through Perthshire.

As Colin and Sadie, members of the Free Wilders group, were cycling on the A912 near Bridge of Earn, almost 250 miles into their journey, a motorist allegedly drove straight towards the pair and struck them. The two cyclists did not require hospital treatment after the collision.

The collision occurred shortly after the couple were filmed riding along the A912 by a bemused (and sweary) phone driver, who later posted the profanity-laden video to Twitter.

And in 2023, a naked cyclist who was arrested while riding along a coastal path as part of a charity fundraiser criticised what he called the “upsetting negativity” that often surrounds naturism in the UK.

Stuart Gilmour, a 44-year-old HGV driver, was cycling on the Wales Coast Path from Prestatyn to Colwyn Bay, wearing nothing but a pair of trainers, when he was reported to police by a member of the public and arrested.

After spending a few hours in a cell, Gilmour was eventually released after CCTV footage of him cycling along the promenade towards Colwyn Bay proved that he was not indecently exposing himself.

Under the Sexual Offences Act 2003 (England) and the Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2009, public nudity is not illegal in Britain unless there is intent to cause alarm or distress to others – something organisers of local editions of the World Naked Bike Ride, who clear the events in advance with police, make a point of emphasising every year.

However, Gilmour – whose “eventful” ride in north Wales at the weekend forms part of his bid to cycle 1,000 miles in the nude to raise money for mental health charity Mind – says that while the online and public reaction to his naked bike rides is mostly positive, he does find some of the personal attacks “upsetting”.