Man jailed after riding off-road motorcycle through busy shopping centre

Laura Proto1 March 2016
WEST END FINAL

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This is the moment a man rides an off-road motorcycle through a busy shopping centre as stunned shoppers looked on.

James Kinsella, 20, from Bootle, was today jailed for 12 months after admitting driving through the Strand shopping centre in Bootle on January 7.

CCTV footage shows Kinsella brazenly riding the motorcycle and narrowly missing a pensioner as he enters the centre.

He continues to ride through the shopping centre, with customers stopping in their tracks as he hurtles towards them.

After riding through the building, Kinsella rides out onto the pavement before weaving through traffic at a busy roundabout.

Footage released by Merseyside Police also shows Kinsella being followed by the police helicopter as he continued to ride through the streets.

Bootle neighbourhood Inspector Ian Jones said: “James Kinsella had a blatant disregard for the safety of other people when he drove the scrambler bike through the Strand shopping centre.

"It is clear from the CCTV footage that the centre was very busy at the time and there were a number of shoppers – including mums with prams – just feet from the bike.

“It is only by sheer luck that nobody was struck by the bike and seriously injured or worse.”

Kinsella pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, driving without insurance, driving without a licence and not wearing protective headgear.

Along with a 12 month jail term, he was also disqualified from driving and must take an extended test and had his licence endorsed.

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