Exchange Chambers

Michael Lavery successfully prosecutes motorbike rider who had his three year old son on board

Michael Lavery, a barrister at Exchange Chambers, has successfully prosecuted a reckless father who tore around roads, pavements and footpaths and pulled wheelies on his motorbike while his bewildered three-year-old son sat on the petrol tank.

Ryan Ward, sped around at up to 40mph without a driving licence as his son Daley sat in front holding onto the handlebars. Neither was wearing a helmet or protective clothing.

Ward, of Hilldale Avenue, Blackley, was jailed for five years and four months after he admitted dangerous driving, cruelty to a child under 16, driving while disqualified and an unrelated firearms offence.

Judge Martin Rudland, said: “I have to deal with you for a rather unusual case of child cruelty, dangerous driving and driving while disqualified.”

He added that the offence was captured on camera by a police helicopter, which was on general patrol when it saw Mr Ward riding the bike. It then discovered his three-year old son was astride the petrol tank.

Initially the father and son were spotted waiting at traffic lights in the Harpurhey area of Manchester. The helicopter kept its spy camera trained on Ward as he rode away.

Officers watched as the bike then hurtled past parked cars and through terraced streets.  During the ride Ward repeatedly lifted the front wheel off the ground in wheelie stunts to impress the little boy.  He was eventually arrested after he was spotted pushing the bike along the road on June 5.

The firearm offence was a retribution attack on the home of Jonny Joyce for his assault upon Celebrity Big Brother star Patrick Doherty. The offence was the discharge of a shotgun at a car believed to be one belonging to the Joyces.