Cyclist 'rode furiously' at prams as police chased him

A cyclist rode "furiously" at babies in prams while trying to flee from police, a court has heard.

Daniel Kennedy, 43, swerved dangerously into traffic, almost causing a crash, after being spotted by police cycling on the pavement while using his phone.

In a bid to get away, Kennedy mounted the pavement and rode at a family with babies in prams, forcing them to get out of his way, Wirral magistrates were told.

Kennedy was caught by police after falling off his bike, and after pleading guilty to dangerous cycling, has been convicted and given a £120 fine.

Kennedy, from Liverpool, offered no mitigation as he entered his guilty plea in writing last week.

In a statement to the court, PC Samuel Hawthorn said he was on patrol at 19:00 BST on 8 July in Aigburth Road in Liverpool when he spotted Kennedy "cycling at some considerable speed along the pavement whilst holding a mobile phone to his ear".

"I told him to stop," he said.

"He looked at me and said 'OK boss', and as we stopped the police vehicle he turned the bike 180 degrees and rode off, into the road, into oncoming traffic.

"Numerous vehicles had to emergency brake and swerve to avoid colliding with him.

"He then crossed the other carriageway onto the opposite side of the road.

"As we turned our police vehicle around he doubled back and cycled off down Belgrave Road.

"At the end he turned left onto Buckland Street and then turned right onto a pedestrian path.

"The entrance narrowed between two sets of railings where a family, including babies in prams, were currently walking through.

"He cycled furiously towards them, they had to move quickly to avoid being hurt and he forced his way through.

"Had they not moved out of his way, [I] believe someone would have been seriously injured.

"He then fell off the bike and was detained."

Kennedy was not required to attend court, and pleaded guilty through the fast-track Single Justice Procedure.

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