A READING man has been sentenced the three-and-a-half years in jail for a string of offences after driving a stolen motorbike at a pedestrian.
Callum James Haste, aged 20 and of Blandford Road, was sentenced after he was found guilty in his absence of a count each of dangerous driving, ABH assault, and one count of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.
Haste was also banned from driving for two years and three months once he is released from prison.
It follows two separate incidents, the first of which took place on September 30, 2023, when a member of the public attempted to stop a motorcycle they recognised as having bee stolen from a friend.
Haste rode towards the victim, causing them injuries equivalent to actual bodily harm; the victim is still recovering from those injuries.
Haste escaped on the motorcycle down a public footpath near to Acacia Road, the incident was reported, and an investigation was launched.
Haste was arrested on October 2 that year, and subsequently released on bail for further investigation to be conducted.
Then on October 21 a number of officers conducted a search following reports of a stolen motorbike, which was later found abandoned.
They spotted a person riding an electric off-road motorbike, who was also carrying a passenger, in an extremely dangerous manner.
Officers worked to stop the rider, who was on the pavement and rode towards a police constable.
The officer was struck by the bike, pinning him between it and a parked police van, causing injuries which required emergency treatment.
The officer is still recovering from their injuries, and Haste was arrested a short distance away.
He was charged the following day with assault occasioning ABH and dangerous driving and also charged with causing serious injury by dangerous driving.
He was tried in his absence as he failed to appear in court in October last year.
The passenger was fined for not wearing a helmet, and charged with possession of a small amount of class A drugs. They pleaded guilty and were fined at Magistrates’ Court.
Haste has been sentenced to three years and six months’ imprisonment and a driving ban of more than two years once released.
Detective Sergeant Robert Chevalier, from the Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: “Haste has been convicted and sentenced for his crimes.
“E-motorbikes such as the one that was being ridden by Haste when he knocked down our officer are extremely powerful and fast and was not at all suitable for being ridden on roads or the pavement.
“In this particular case the E-motorbike was not road legal and should only have been used off-road on private land.
“The manner of riding posed a substantial risk to other road users and pedestrians.
“Haste showed in both of these incidents that he clearly is a reckless individual who has no place on our roads and was willing to knock people over in order to avoid facing justice.
“We will continue to work to ensure the safety of our communities and remove those who seek to act dangerously on our roads.”
