A man who used his electric bicycle to do “donuts” in a Wisbech graveyard has been fined and had penalty points added to his driving licence.
Lewis Raftery, 29, was arrested on the evening of August 22 by neighbourhood policing officers who were on foot patrol in the area of St Peter and Paul’s Church in Church Terrace.
Rafferty was seen on his high-powered electric bicycle riding through the church grounds, shouting to the officers “chase me plod”, swearing and taunting them, while tearing up the grass with his bike.
Raftery was later identified by officers and arrested at his home in Ecton Grove, Elm.
He appeared at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court on October 19 where he admitted driving without due care and attention, criminal damage and using threatening words or behaviour with intent to cause harassment, alarm or distress.
He was sentenced the same day where he was fined £40, must pay £100 compensation to the owners of the church yard – Fenland District Council, and has had three penalty points added to his driving licence.
PC Justin Bielawski, from the Wisbech Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “While tackling anti-social behaviour around our towns has been a focus for the neighbourhood team for a while, this month, following consultation with our communities, tackling ASB in parks and open spaces in Wisbech Town Park, St Peter’s Garden and Tillery Park has been formally set as a priority for us to focus on over the next three months.
“We know ASB brings misery to communities, and we are targeting patrols and focusing our time to best tackle this issue, however I would urge members of the public to report concerns and information about ASB to us so we can ensure our time is spent where it is most needed.”
Information about ASB can be reported to police online on the force website.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here