Skip to content

Man found guilty of murdering boy who stole e-bike

Phil CunliffeNorth West
News imageGMP A mugshot of Terrence King who is staring directly at the camera with no expression on his faceGMP
Terrence King was convicted following a two-week trial

A man has been found guilty of murdering a teenager who stole an e-bike by deliberately driving his car into him.

Terrence King, 60, killed 15-year-old Devon Simmonds-Caines, who had stolen the £3,000 bike, from another boy in Middleton in Greater Manchester on 22 July 2025.

The jury was told King had admitted manslaughter and accepted his actions caused Devon's death, but he denied murder.

But he was found guilty of murder following a two-week trial and will be sentenced on 23 July at Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester.

There were screams of joy from the victim's family and friends inside the courtroom as the guilty verdict was announced along with shouts of "thank you".

CCTV and doorbell camera footage showed Simmonds-Caines riding the e-bike, which the court heard he - along with a friend - had stolen from another boy on the Langley Estate.

There was a fracas and punches thrown before Devon rode off on the e-bike, the court heard.

News imageGMP Devon Simmonds-Caines, with black mid-length curly hair and wearing white top, smiles at the cameraGMP
Devon Simmonds-Caines, 15, died in Middleton in July 2025

Outlining the case, prosecuting barrister Michael Hayton KC said King wanted to cause Devon "at the very least, really serious harm" and had steered his car onto the pavement without applying the brakes.

"It was not a tragic motor accident or poor driving" he told the jury.

He said it was the Crown's case that King went "from being outraged" to being someone who made "a criminal decision".

"This is not an attempt to recover the bike but to get revenge or punish the boy," he said.

King's car was later seen driving at speed on the road before veering left, mounting the pavement and crashing into Simmonds-Caines, who died at the scene from his injuries.

At his trial, King said he did not know Devon and had just been "trying to get the bike back" by "blocking" it from the side or behind.

But following 11 hours of deliberations, the jury returned a verdict of guilty for the murder charge.

Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.