A motorist convicted of drug driving offences wound up back in court last week – after he was spotted by police officers riding an illegally modified bike while disqualified.
51-year-old Wayne Collison, who was handed a 12-month disqualification in February for driving while under the influence of drugs the previous August, was stopped by PC Bufton on Orchard Walk in Newtown, Powys, on 22 July.
The officer found that Collison’s Carrera mountain bike featured an aftermarket electric motor and ‘twist and go’ throttle, which he claims to have bought online just three days prior, allowing him to ride it without pedalling.
When tested by PC Bufton, the throttle alone enabled the bike to reach 93kph (almost 58mph), according to Collison’s bike computer. The electric motor was also later discovered to boast a power output of 2,000 watts.
In the UK, legal electric bikes, classified as electrically assisted pedal cycles (EAPCs), must have pedals that can propel the bicycle, have an electric motor with a maximum continuous rated power not exceeding 250 watts, and cut off electrical assistance when it reaches 15.5mph.
Riders of these compliant e-bikes, which are treated legally as conventional pedal cycles, do not need to register or insure their bicycle, nor are they legally required to wear a helmet while riding it.
However, the use of modified bikes, such as the one ridden by Collison, which do not cut off assistance at 15.5mph and can reach high speeds without pedalling, are instead legally classified as motorbikes and mopeds.
They require a licence, registration, Vehicle Excise Duty, and the rider to wear an approved motorcycle helmet to be used on a public highway. It is also therefore also illegal for someone like Collison, who is banned from driving until February 2027, to ride them on public roads.
Last Thursday, Collison pleaded guilty to four offences in Welshpool Magistrates’ Court, including driving while disqualified, riding a motorcycle without protective headgear, and riding without a test certificate or insurance.
“PC Bufton was on Orchard Walk when he saw the defendant riding an electric, adapted bike on the crossing and pavement. He was not wearing a helmet,” prosecutor Helen Tench told the court, the Powys County Times reports.
“The officer knew he was banned. The bike had a twist throttle, it could be used without the pedals being moved.
“He noticed the speedometer went up to 93kph when he lifted the wheel off the ground and revved the accelerator. It had 2,000 watts of power.”
According to Tench, when PC Bufton called Collison at a later date to arrange an interview, the 51-year-old told him to “f*** off”.
Representing the convicted drug driver, Owain Jones told the court: “He bought the components to an old bike three days before his arrest off Amazon.
“It was to help him get by as he suffers with sciatica. He was unaware when he bought them of the rules that would render the bike to be illegal.
“He was unaware, but as he spoke to the officer he concedes it was and he admits his guilt today. He did cooperate with PC Bufton, he stopped and he handed the vehicle over.”
Probation officer Julian Davies noted that Collison has 20 previous convictions for 29 offences but argued, in light of the current order, that any probation intervention is unnecessary.
The 51-year-old was handed a 12-month community order, including 54 hours of unpaid work. He was also issued six points on his driving licence, which will remain in effect when his ban is lifted in February, and was ordered pay a £114 surcharge and £85 in costs.
