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news
bournemouth.jpgBournemouth cyclist denies double assault along speed trap prom
A cyclist has appeared before Poole Magistrates’ Court accused of assaulting a police officer and Bournemouth’s seafront manager on the seaside resort’s promenade last June.
The alleged assaults, reported on road.cc at the time, took place against the backdrop of tension between cyclists and the local authority and police, who have been aiming to combat the perceived problem of people riding along the promenade at speeds exceeding 10mph.
The cyclist, 43-year-old Nicholas Rowntree from Poole, denies the charges. But as reported in the Bournemouth Echo, seafront manager Chris Saunders claims that he was forced to stop Mr Rowntree with both hands “to stop him cycling into me.”
Mr Saunders, who said that the cyclist was riding “extremely erratically with no hands on the handlebars,” added that he had been concerned for the safety of other people on the promenade such as pensioners and young mothers with their children.
He claimed that Mr Rowntree rode past him before skidding into a turn and riding at him, saying that the bike struck his shin as it passed him. “If I hadn’t jumped out of the way, it would have probably broken both my legs,” he told the court.
However, Mr Rowntree’s defence counsel disputed that version of events, saying that his client asserted there had been no contact from the bike and indeed that it had been Mr Saunders who had pushed the cyclist.
Immediately after the alleged incident, Mr Saunders contacted colleagues, resulting in police putting up a barrier apparently to stop Mr Rowntree. Police community support officer Hannah Ward told the court that she called out and put a hand up to stop the cyclist as he approached, but claimed that he shoved her away and carried on along the promenade.
PCSO Ward said, “He came towards me and shoved me off with his left arm. He shoved me on my hand with such force it almost caused me to fall over.
“I was fearful – I didn’t know what else he would do, if he would strike me.”
But through his lawyer, Mr Rowntree said that while he acknowledged he had gone through the barrier, he “simply rode through and made no contact with anyone at all.”
The court was told that he was arrested some 90 minutes later as he cycled back along the promenade.
The case has been adjourned to a later date.
Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.
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14 comments
We now have serious crime in the Bournemouth: murder, rape, burglary, cyclists doing more than 10mph etc. Its a good job the officials know which crimes to divert their resources to else the towns valuable tourist industry would be affected. Personally I think the accounts from the manager and the officer sound like something those 1950's speeches about Rock music. I expect the cyclist will also have to pay for the severe mental trauma he inflicted upon them, they won't be able to look at bicycle without going into relapse. Lucky hanging isnt still an option else the mob would have lynched him by now.
It's possible that the person was riding erratically. But the information presented here about the events does not add up.
Look.
Can't you accept the possibility that the person concerned was riding erratically? Perhaps exceeding 10mph? If there were a lot of people on the Prom then just perhaps maybe he deserved to get stopped.
As for the descriptions of shoving etc. Second hand accounts from journalists are notoriously inaccurate and misleading
More inconsistencies in the prosecution's case appear on rereading this account. The barrier was put up by the police to stop the cyclist after the incident when he was stopped by the shop owner who used two hands. But when the cyclist returned he rode past the barrier. He was then detained when he returned 90 minutes later. So there were two incidents then? Or were there three?
"resulting in police putting up a barrier"
Tax money well spent
did they not have a stinger too? as he was *obviously* endangering life with his "erratic" cycling.
Yep, shoving someone without having hands on the bars and then skidding to a turn and riding at someone, still without hands on bars. How do you do that?
Dunno, but there's still a place up for grabs on Team Sky. Maybe Dave Brailsford should give this guy a call.
Mr Saunders, who said that the cyclist was riding “extremely erratically with no hands on the handlebars,”
He claimed that Mr Rowntree rode past him before skidding into a turn and riding at him.
I am impressed riding with no hands skidding into a turn.
From the alleged actions this guy has some seriously good bike handling skills!
Shoving someone whilst cycling? Perhaps the prosecution should be asked to demonstrate how this is done?
I'm pretty sure I've seen some pros shove bonkers Basque fans out of the way as the TDF winds its way through the Pyrenees
at the same time I mean… I can do them independently. Honest
yeah makes him sound like something out of Mad Max rather than a bloke on a bicycle. On the other hand, maybe he is! Wish I could skid and turn though
"If I hadn't jumped out of the way it would've probably broken both my legs"
Really? that would have to be some wide tyre.