YouTube stunt rider jailed
October 21, 2008 by Matt Brogan
We’ve all seen videos on the web of riders and drivers doing crazy things on public roads, it boggles the mind really, now one example of such footage has scored a British man 12 weeks in jail.
Performing dangerous stunts, wheelies, endos, skids and speeding at up to 209km/h, the 28 year old man then posted his exploits on the internet site YouTube for the rest of the world – including Police – to see.
When officers called at his home, he asked them: “Is this about the YouTube video?”. He was charged with two counts of dangerous driving and disqualified from driving for two years in addition to the jail term. He will also have to take an extended driving test prior to being allowed on the road again.
The rider was caught after a fellow motorist saw his antics and took down the registration number. Police later found the footage on the web. The footage, which has since been removed from the site, had been filmed by a friend from various angles including from a footbridge.
Print it: 
I dunno…. if he wasn’t caught in the act its a bit of an ethical grey area to me…. the fact is: unless they (the fuzz) were on the scene at the time and could identify the man and his license, the ability to precisely target individuals and to unsure no wrongful convictions are limited.
by the same token he does sound like a bit of a douche, perhaps he is the SLR guy? (jalopnik readers will get it)
*sure there was video evidence, but the nature of youtube these days lacks a certain authenticity required when convicting an accused individual.
good, another tossbag motorcycle rider off the roads. should be more of it – we need to get rid of the hoon element of the motorcycling fraternity. It’s OK to take risks with your own life, but when you directly or indirectly involve other motorists in your shenanigans, then adios amigo. good riddance.
Devil,
Police are rarely on the scene of any robbery, yet the grainy surveilance video is often used to convict them.
And clearly there is more to it than just the video, ie where were you at this time etc…
This guy got what was comming to him.
Personally i think this individual is an idiot, anybody who obviously flaunts their abilities then puts it on the ‘net for the pigs to see is not really a smart cookie.
I speed stupid amounts too, but i take measures to make sure i don’t get caught.
Sucked in!!! This guy might have some talent on a motor bike…..BUT at the end of the day if he does his tricks on public roads where innocent people might get hurt or killed when he runs OUT of talent, then he is nothing more than a common criminal and jail is where he belongs!!!!!
Brett,
Legally there is a big difference between a robbery/assault and a victimless ’summary’ crime such as the alleged actions, hence my inner torment.
Unfortunately I don’t know the whole story, but I do presume a full face helmet would have been implemented. Also, as a youtube video you cannot argue that the footage has not been doctored/edited, a key difference from CCTV/security footage.
Perhaps he is just a poser posting other peoples stunts and taking credit. I don’t know. Even worse, the guy is being written off by us all after just a one sentence description of his alleged crime, in no detail. 209km/h? I know of people who have hit those speeds (and higher) on local roads. Wheelies and endos? I see them all the time through the main street of town. Even worse, there is no source with which to find more detailed information and not just this particular journalist’s interpretation. Maybe i’m just a cynic but sometimes you just need to be more objective.
The point here is that youtube has no place in the court of law, but more importantly it questions the anonymity of the internet and the consequences of our online actions, and the future does not look good with such precedent.
Devil 666,
Big up’s for ‘SLR GUY’ reference.. FTW! Douche bag indeed.
Maybe he wanted ‘hoon of the day’?
Devil,
That’s Bret with 1 “T” thanks (others use two).
The video was just summary evidence to an investigation after a tip-off. The article doesn’t claim that the video was the only evidence against him, as you seem to imply.
And this crime is only “victimless” (as you say) because he, and everyone he met, got lucky.
Police in Australia DO view Youtube footage to identify any local illegal activity. It’s often the starting point of an investigation, and quite a few charges have been laid here as well.
i think alot of u are missing the point that
he was reported BEFORE the cops saw the footage
so whoevers arguing that the film could have been edited and whatnot
shut up lol read the article
Thanks Ross, finally someone else with some reading comprehension skills.
Police often search the web and find evidence of reported honing that often convicts the offender.
These goof balls really do have too much tyre smoke in their systems.
One day i bet someone will film themselves robbing a bank.