A “dangerous” moped-riding thug who deliberately targeted cyclists, kicking victims from their bikes and causing significant injuries, has been jailed for 18 months.

Davontay Higgins filmed and uploaded footage of his attacks to Snapchat, the moped rider covering his number plate and wearing a balaclava as he targeted lone cyclists in south London.

The 21-year-old was this week sentenced at Kingston Crown Court having previously pleaded guilty to two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and two of dangerous driving in relation to two attacks on cyclists, in August and October last year.

We shared footage of one of the attacks at the time, the video having been uploaded to Snapchat by Higgins. It showed the second of the two incidents, Higgins kicking a commuting cyclist into a parked car at around 15mph in Southfields. The court heard how the victim of that attack suffered head, back and shoulder injuries and required hospital treatment.

The first incident happened in Tooting a couple of months earlier and involved Higgins following a cyclist for 10 to 15 minutes and ultimately kicking the terrified rider off their bike, causing bleeding and other injuries which required an ambulance to attend the scene.

“I still don’t know why he did it,” the rider told road.cc following this week’s sentencing. “The defence council said that his client was sorry and offered all sorts of explanations, but didn’t say why he did it.”

The cyclist, who does not wish to be named, managed to film the attack [above, link to YouTube here if video above says unavailable]. It happened on 27 August 2024 as the cyclist rode from Wimbledon towards Earlsfield. Higgins followed the victim for around 10 to 15 minutes, filming as it unfolded. 

At one point the cyclist rode onto the pavement to try to get away from Higgins, putting railings between them, but the moped rider again chased him afterwards, eventually kicking the rider from his bike, taunting the victim as he drove away filming on his phone.

“In addition to the physical injuries, you have caused distress and made him anxious about his safety when cycling and made him afraid that he might be subject to further attack for no reason,” judge Georgia Kent said at sentencing. “He was also being caused distress and concern that you were video recording him especially when he discovered that you posted a video on social media of your other victim.

“The victims were obviously vulnerable because of their circumstances — they were cyclists in the road and you were a moped rider. You also used the highly dangerous weapon equivalent by using your shod foot in combination with your moped to kick them with force and cause them to fall from their bicycles with predictable injuries.

“I am satisfied that your offending taken together is so serious that only a custodial sentence can be justified […] these are two very serious offences of deliberate dangerous driving targeting vulnerable cyclists […] these offences were committed in quick succession and you filmed them.

“It should have been obvious to you that you deliberately risked causing these cyclists extremely serious injuries — if not worse. I am satisfied that the seriousness of these offences taken together means that appropriate punishment can only be achieved by immediate custody.”

Higgins was sentenced to 18 months in prison and broke down in tears and called for his mother in court. He has also been disqualified from driving for two years and nine months.

The Standard reported how Higgins’ defence had claimed he was “vulnerable” and displayed a “lack of maturity” and had “mental health issues”.

“He is not proud of what he did and he is ashamed,” defence barrister Tim Banks told the court. “He has struggled with his mental health. There is a diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.”

Higgins’ footage of the second attack went viral online, the Metropolitan Police later identifying him as a suspect and naming him in an appeal.

Shocking attack on cyclist in south London (Twitter)
Shocking attack on cyclist in south London (Twitter) (Image Credit: Farrelly Atkinson)

In March, the case was stopped by the CPS due to fears about a lack of evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction. However, a month later, this was reversed upon review, the Crown Prosecution Service deeming it wrong to have not charged Higgins.

One of the cyclists targeted by Higgins thanked the press, notably the Daily Mail, for its coverage of the attacks which he believes forced the police to take action.